table. Hello. If anybody is in need of translation, we have that uh proper personnel that is going to be able to help. I'm already Good evening and welcome to the regular meeting for the Lawrence City Council.
Today is Tuesday, April 21st, 2026. Pursuant to chapter 20 of the act 2022, this meeting will be hybrid, allowing participation both in person in the city council chambers and remotely. The Zoom link was provided to anybody that requested. This meeting is also been
transmitted live through the uh Lawren City Council Facebook page as well as the Lawren City Council YouTube page. Roll call, Madame Clerk. >> Councelor Gonzalez, >> present. >> Councelor Miguel is noted as absent. Councelor Marl
>> present. >> Council Infante is noted as absent. Council Reyes >> present. >> Council Del Rosario >> present. Councelor Llant, >> present. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> present. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> present. Please join me for a moment of
silence in celebration to the 173 years of the city of Lawrence. Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge of 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. Councilors, can I get a minute to approve minutes? Uh, can I get a motion to approve minutes from uh, December 16, 2025? >> Motion to approve. >> Second.
>> Uh, any questions? There is none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> The eyes have it. Please, counselors, can I get a motion to approve minutes from April 7, 2027, 2026? >> There's a motion to approve properly. Second discussion. I hear none. All
those in favor, please say I. >> I. Any naysay? The eyes have it. Public participation. Uh the rule for public participations are as are as follows. You're going to have two and a half minute to speak. At the two minute mark, you're going to hear a beep or an indication that you still have 30
seconds. Please refer to this council as a whole. Name and address for the record that anybody that is providing public participation. So the first person that we have is H Mali name and address for the record please.
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 best hardworking DPW workers and leadership. Thank you for making Lawrence a
beautiful city with the citizen support or inspection department and union. Thank you for excellent job. Lawrence public school with the impeccable leadership by honorable superintendent Raph Guerrero doing excellent job.
Million thanks to honorable director Wu. Lawrence teachers proud of you. We support your union because of you. Lawrence will rise again. Lawrence always strong. Lawrence always unite. We are proud of our veterans. Thank you for
your service. We must hire two new position in a veterans department and create the best department for the commissioner for elders. In this important meeting, as we honor our best police officers, fire the first
responder, we support our firefighters union with the impeccable leadership by honorable chief Deleni. Lawrence police officers, thank you for excellent service. We are united to support Lawrence police officers. Thank you for
excellent job. >> The next person that we have is uh Rich Russell. Councelor Russell. Good evening, councilors. Rich Russell, 34 Cross Street. Not much in my bi-weekly rant in front of the council except Will somebody tell me what the
rule 12F exception is? I noticed that the council gave themselves an early Christmas present and deleted 33 of 38 tabled items, including agenda item 46623, an item that was tabled back in I think
April of uh 2004 that implied that three monument plaques are, and I quote from the agenda, anticipated monument revisions after July 1st, 2024 with the FY25 budget. Well, the FY25 budget has
come and gone, and we're well into blowing the entire FY26 budget, and nothing has been done about that agenda item other than erase it into history. Uh, three items on that uh 121625
agenda, 7216, 12517, and 44423 were given. Rule 12F 12F exceptions. When my second cousin, seven times removed, Jason Russell, gave his life
251 years and two days ago, I didn't think I don't think that he thought that helping to jumpstart a new country would create a new unwritten political rule. That being, there are rules for me and there are rules for thee. Continuing on
regarding the crap show over the tiff situation at 470 Broadway. How about this? Give him his 15-year TIFF with the provision the tiff expires with either the sale of the property or the expiration of the 15-year tiff. Boy
would former city councelor Sandy El Monty love to weigh in on this uh discussion. Last, who allowed two pieces of snow fighting equipment to park in the general Dunovan school parking lot? Isabel Melendas had to give up using the
Dunovan school. Is this another case of rules for me and rules for thee? As always, I thank you for the time. >> The next person on the on that uh on the list is Shakira Asunion. Name and address for the record, please.
>> Hello everyone. My name is Shakira Asencion. I reside at 19 Mckenley Avenue. Thank you everyone for your time today and your presence. I really do appreciate the space to be able to talk about something I find very important to me and also to the city. I'm going be talking about item 6326 which is appropriation transfer of $200,000 from
free cash to the Marramac Valley Workforce Board for AI workforce training for Lawrence residents. Uh petition by Octavian Spanner and the mayor Brian Deena. I disagree with this transfer request. Um a the monies that
have already been appropriately assigned has been assigned to the federation and the Hispanis the Komasantes Hispana uh has been properly assigned through the creating of thriving Lawrence act to help Lawrence businesses from closing something that's been happening more and more with the gentrification of Lawrence city due to a lot of the developers of
pro of overpriced housing as well as developing of organizations and businesses that do not per se center the needs of Lawrence residents currently um AI workforce training something that is not presented nor asked by Frank Bonet who is the actual ED of the Marramac
Valley workforce. Um, as we all know, AI is very dangerous for this world and dangerous not only for our minds but also for our planet. It gets rid of drinking water which means that our youth that we're creating this program for won't be having access to drinking water in the years of their highest working age of 30 to 40. Uh, also means
that we're also going to be increasing the electricity bill because that's what AI does with the AI dating centers. It creates really high electricity charges and impacts the entire city. Something that a lot of Lawrence residents already struggle to pay. Uh as well AI is also ensuring that it's pushing people out of
the workforce not in not increasing workforce opportunities. I think what would be much more valuable for Marramac Valley Forest Board is to be able to have workforce programs that centering the youth increasing their soft skills and hard skills that can't be dictated nor can be taken away by AI. A B I also
believe that this money that's already been properly allocated but not properly dispersed should be going dispersed the way it was actually appropriated by the council and by the city by the rules of the creating a thriving act uh grant which is to the federal who had put in the work to put in the application put
in the work and the patients to get approved for the application and also is putting in the work to make sure this money goes towards the creating the businesses of Lawrenes and business owners Lawrence who are needed especially with the limited parking there is in the exit street as well as limited parking and the closure of potential businesses on Winter Street
with the upcoming projects coming on for the city of Lawrence. I like to believe that the city and the council members can be able to put more effort and thought into ensuring that these this free cash that's actually not free but not properly dispersed to the people who were granted the funds the federal Hispan.
>> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Thank you for your time. >> The next person that we have is um Ashley Asunion. Name and address for the record, please. Hello, good evening. My name is Ashley Asunion. I live in 19 Mckenley Avenue and I appreciate the time you guys
taking to listen to us as we have this opportunity to speak about the matters we're concerned with our city. I would like to follow up on Shakar Alion's point in regards of the order of 6326 related to the free cash funds that is not free cash that should be better
allocated to what was promised by the city. um related to the work in the force of the federation of the businesses to which they try their best to make sure they get support so they don't float closure as many are doing now to this day. In regards to that, I believe that the workforce training of
Lawrence residents organization has done a fantastic job without AI and they definitely don't need to spend all that money on AI. AI was just created and is not needed for our citizens to thrive. I went to the workforce when I was a child when I started in high school 14 15
going to work. The workforce was an amazing program without AI and I think it'll be better without AI with more support from the city with the needs in which Frank can tell you all day and all night about. And so in that regards I don't believe that technology in that matter would benefit the city. Instead,
I think a would better benefit using those funds for organization promise and if not other funds for training would benefit like transportation or providing meals for people to go go to work to students to go to work. Some people don't have food to go to work to have energy to go to these type of training.
So maybe education related to practicing shadowing maybe Lawrence businesses the ones the same ones are getting closed down because there's no money for them to get support to ensure that they don't close down. So maybe we use all all of our issues together regarding the money for education whether that's related to
the students and the workforce as well as transportation as well as food and as well as our businesses that we and we all know who create them and who maintain them which is the city of Lawrence themselves at least we are trying to and in that regards there is nothing else I have to say.
Thank you. >> Thank you madame cler please call the role for uh councel infante. Councelor Infonte, it looks like your mic is muted. >> Can you hear me now? >> Yes, >> I'm present.
Thank you, >> Miss Mara. The next person on the p participation list is Sarah Perez. Name and address for the record, please. >> Good evening. This is Sarah Perez, 19 McKinley a F L F L F L F L F L F L F L F L F L F Lawrence, Massachusetts. And the
reason why I'm here is for that money that was fun um or was assigned to the federation to stay at the federation business um locally need the money especially rather they have you guys um work with those business on lower street
that they're going to close down for like eight months and there's plenty of business there that will need the money. Um that money needs to stay with Lawrence business. the ceremony cannot go into any other um area. Another thing that I want to mention today is I take a moment here to invite you all for next
week meeting uh well the court setting for next week for the LRA um a lawsuit against the city and I think it's a very important that many of us um participate of the meeting because um it's going to be a before and after whatever the judge
decide that day it's going to be a before and after for Lawrence and it's really important that we participate in the meeting. Um the other thing that I want to mention it's the minutes. Um I do a lot of research on the website and I would like you guys to um post the
meeting the minutes from the meeting as soon as you can um because I need those to do my research. Thank you very much. >> Right. The next person is uh Wilson Santos >> de los Santos.
>> Sorry. Name and address for the record, please. Uh we're also the Santo 34 streets. Um I'm also here to support the federal uh negotio. One other thing that we have to understand it's about 80% of
employment or jobs in the United States are created by small businesses. Lawrence has the distinct reality that about 90% of it it's micro businesses. businesses that are one to nine employees and some small businesses 10
to 49 of them. If we decide to take money away from uh businesses that are already allocated to invest in new technologies that are not necessarily the safest technology available today we are doing a great disservice to small
businesses in Lawrence especially when 90% of those businesses are from Latinos own businesses. What I'm say, what I will suggest is that before you guys allocate or reallocate the money, think twice.
go talk to the people, talk to small business owners and see how much they are hurting right now because they are um AI is not doing any any any services or any benefits to those business especially in Lawrence about 70% of
those business in Lawrence we don't speak the language we don't speak computer languages and if we think that educating our young guy our young people with you know artificial intelligence is a great thing I I support that but not right now not especially when less than
1% of our GDP nationwide is not driving from um artificial intelligence is for small businesses. Lauren will suffer greatly if we continue to remove money away from small businesses and allocating in other areas that are not necessarily helping our
community. That's all I need to say. Thank you. >> Thank you. The next person is Ala. >> Yeah. Alita. Name and address for the record, please. This was normal.
organizing. Crucif. Quanto receiving for Latina. Council >> president just want to let you know that this did not work for me. So um >> was it on or off? >> If I knew where the on and off button
would be. That would be hugely helpful. >> Fight with it for a few minutes. >> What did you do? >> I had to kind of fight with it. >> Put them on. >> What's that? >> Put them on. >> Put them on. >> Yeah. No, that I could figure out. It's just getting it on is the issue. >> Where do you see it?
>> You didn't. You just held it down for a while >> and then it did work. >> Council President, um I would just let the record reflect that I was not able to listen to that part of that. So, could the clerk please that is part of the minutes? >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> No problem. It will be notice on the minutes. Uh the next person is uh Mark
Lan. Councelor Leland. >> I'll I'll do use my best English on this. Thank you very much, Council President. So, uh, this Lauren Square project, LSP, we've got one coming up this Thursday, April 23rd, 400 pm at the intersection.
I always forget the intersection, Salem and uh, South Union Street is for uh, Joseph T. Guy Jr. Very quick story is that he uh, he actually died in Vietnam. Uh, his family was a family that was very much involved in the military. His
grandfather was a gold uh Congressional Medal of Honor winner uh during the Civil War. His father received the Purple Heart during World War II and now Joseph the Son Jr. died in Vietnam. So his his square is at the intersection
like I mentioned, but it's right at Okonnell Park. U and there used to be the old-timers will know this. Um it's before my time actually, but there used to place place called Joe's Bungalow. at Joe's Bungalow, they used to have these a thing called a chicken barb. The chicken or let me I'm sorry, let me
pronounce it again. A chicken bobb. Um, and that's was uh very popular and very and very famous. Um, and um and the the and so many Laurentians uh used to go to that place uh to eat. It was very popular. So that's how he's notified. And then we'll talk a little bit more
about his life, talk a little bit more about his dad. And then I just learned this evening that his mom is still alive, which is amazing to me. And where's where is she? That's that's true, right? Joseph's mom's still alive, right? So that that that that just gives me goosebumps. So I invite you hopefully
she'll be able to make it. But hopefully you all as well. You're all invited. Please come by at 4 p.m. on Thursday. Thank you. The next person is uh Elias Czecho name the record please.
>> Hello, I'm Elias Czecho from 121 West Street Lawrence Mass. So, uh I just have a few questions. Um we've been renting our city property for over 20 30 years or so. Probably about 20 exaggerating. So, we come to a conclusion. We've been trying to buy
this land for so long. We also need the parking right now is going through a situation. I don't know what's going on. I need some clearances justification for that please. So we had made some plans to buy the lot. They made us made copies
about that. So this is what the this is what the property will look like if you guys sell us the property instead of we don't know what's the plan for it yet. Um there's so many questions to ask especially about the area. Um
what else was So we own a small shop repair shop. We have we've been renting this property for over 20 years or so. We just want to purchase it to make basically a good planning as you saw in the picture
as well. Um there is no parking in the street eventually they say is us. It's not really us. It's just the high volume of customers we have. We have 20 employees that depend on us eventually. We have customers that come out of the area eventually from different towns,
different cities, different states. As you guys know, eventually we constantly get harassed by the ticket meters. Eventually there's no parking. So we definitely need this parking lot to proceed with our business. Otherwise, eventually we don't know where to park
the 15 employees we have. Everybody has vehicles, so we also need to park them somewhere. Um, we want to just buy the property if possible. If you guys could take a look at it, please. We have required everybody with
documents about this. Over the 20 years we've been in business or longer. No one really got back to us. We just been denied service and everything else. We just continue working as normal people do.
Uh we were told we are first picked to buy the land property. Different mayors, different counselors, different people. We just being treated like kids over here, you know. So there's a situation we want to get fixed.
Thank you. Thank you. All right. All these names are going to be submitted for the records. So we going um now we going to the to the agenda. We have a few employees here from the city that has been here since uh uh 8 in the
morning uh today and we would like to uh take care of those items first. Um so we're going to start with budget and finance. Uh madame chair from the bud and finance committee. Are you ready with budget and
finance? What do you want? Do you want the bike share to take care of us? >> It's um I can read it. It's okay. >> The volume is very low. >> Hold on. >> No, the is going to say >> Can you hear me now?
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Okay, the first item that we have for the budget and finance committee is item I just lost my place. Sorry, give me one second. >> 636. Item 63-26,
appropriation transfer in the amount of $200,000 from free cash arbor account to Marramac Valley Workforce Board for AI workforce training for Lawrence residents between the ages of 18 to 25
was sent up to the full council as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. >> There is a motion on the table. Can you hear a second? >> Second. >> Properly second discussion. So we have uh people from the administration here that in case we have
any anybody have any questions. >> Council President, I do have one if I may. >> Sure. Uh Malanche. >> Um thank you council president through you. I just want to make sure that that the documents that I'm I'm seeing is accurate. Um I believe that vote was not
unanimous, but I am seeing in our documents that it is a unanimous vote. And I just want to make sure that we um recorded that correctly. >> Yeah, that was not unanimous. >> I believe it was um you council president that had a different vote. Um
but you are marked um with with the yes. >> Yeah, I have a no. >> Change that. >> Yes. Make sure they reflect that on the menu. >> Yes. >> All corrected. Uh yes the vote was uh uh
31 >> and uh you have presented that as a form of a motion. It's been second discussion on the matters. Any discussions? There is anybody from the administration that would like to add anything on this >> right. Uh uh all those inci. Oh, madame.
Madame clerk, please call the role. Uh there is one one counselor that is online. >> With regard to document 63-26, I'm calling the role signing with you council plant. >> Yes. >> Council del Rosario. >> Yes.
>> Council Reyes. >> Yes. >> Council Infante. >> Yes. >> Council Mama. >> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Councelor Gonzalez, yes. Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. >> Council President,
>> no. What's the count? >> One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Seven in favor. >> Seven in favor. Two. >> One absent, one. Yeah. One absent, one no. >> Motion carries. Uh, item 130 26.
Item 13026 is um payment of prior year invoices in the amount of $343,194.85 for transportation vendors um for the school department and it was brought up
as a favorable recommendation to the full council and I make that as a formal motion. There's a motion on the T in front of us properly second discussion. Uh before we discuss this item I would like to bring and u bring a potential
uh situation that we have that we have present some u some students name and for the record uh that has been correct by the school department. they have submit uh a new a new set of documents and remove previous documents uh with the students names on those uh on those
um item that were submitted properly uh previously to the city council. Um as far as we understand those name has not been distributed to anybody other than the counselors and I hope that um uh we can correct uh this matter of in the
future or any similar situation. >> Uh Mr. Kaf or what is the proper position? >> CFO >> CFO Jason CFO for Lawrence public schools. Um yes Mr. President good evening and good evening uh members of
the council. Um yes, we were here on April 13th to in front of the uh budget and finance committee to get a vote uh to authorize payment of this. There was some documents that were um given to the council um that had some uh sensitive
information on and uh first thing the next day we went um and and fixed the issue. Uh, I want to say thank you to to our city clerk who worked expeditiously to to do that and um we're here again to
uh get the vote from the full council on on the matter. >> All right, counselors, any questions in regard to that u uh to the payment of pre prior year's invoice for the amount of 343,194 and 85. All right, since that is none, Madame
Clair, please call the role. >> Councelor Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Councelor Marmal, >> yes. >> Councelor Infante, >> yes. >> Councelor Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council La Plant, >> yes.
>> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. >> Congratulations. Uh, item 131, uh, 26. Item 131-26,
authorization to expend $300,000. An earmark provided by Representative Frank Moran for supplemental cost associated with the city bridge projects was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. Second there's a motion
on the in front of us uh properly second discussion. >> I hear no discussion. Madame Clair, please call the role. Council Lant. >> Yes. >> Sorry. >> Council Del Rosario. >> Yes. >> Council Reyes.
>> Yes. >> Council Infonte. >> Yes. >> Council Marmal. >> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Councelor Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Levy is noted as momentarily absent. Council President,
>> yes. Motion carries. Item >> item 13226 Madame Clair Madame Madame uh Madame Chair from the V Finance Committee. Item 132-26, the review and approval of annual applications to HUD or the community
development block grant the CD BG estimated amount of 1,638,713 and for the home grant in the estimated amount $835,894.17 was sent up as a favorable recommendation. ation and I make that as
a formal motion. >> There's a motion in front of us. Probably second. Discussion. >> Discussion. >> Uh, councel plan. >> I know that there was some changes at the last meeting on the numbers. Does the motion reflect the changes?
>> The motion was general, but it will reflect the appropriate amount. >> So is the answer yes. >> Um the budget and finance committee was presented as the proper amount and at that point it was changed. So madame clair do you have the proper number?
>> Um if it came out of committee I will have the numbers in the committee report. So yes it is reflecting the discussion that uh the budget and finance committee have which is the amount of um 1,68 713
and the home funds for the amount of 835,894 uh with 17 cents. I'd like to make a friendly amendment to the motion that it reflect the actual dollars that was submitted to us two weeks ago by the director, Miss Fank. And I believe that
number for the black block grant and home uh block grant is 1606570. >> Can you say that again, please? >> Sure. And uh I just want to make sure I'm actually looking to miss things to make sure I've got the right numbers,
but I I do have it on the spreadsheet. And this is the first part. Um there was a reduction and the to just to be steady with what so the public knows that we're actually having a public hearing that reflects the actual numbers. I believe
that is 1606570. Miss F, can you confirm that please? >> That is the correct number for community development block grant. >> How much? >> It's 1,6,570. And the home funds, >> it's $831,8518.
>> And the reason there's a difference is when I submitted the original amount, we did not have the actual allocation amounts yet, but we do have them now. >> We made sure that next time it's uh properly reflected on that uh on the document. It was not properly uh wrote
it down when uh when we have it here. So, I'd like to make a an amendment or a friendly amendment to the chair to have the numbers reflect what Miss Fink just pres presented to us >> and to order a public hearing. >> Uh, public hearing. It is right. >> Madame chair from the bon finance
committee. Do you accept the friendly amendment? >> I accept. >> All right. There is a friendly amendment properly accepted. Uh, any discussion? So in general, Missine, can you explain to u um to the public that is looking at
this meeting and watching uh what is the CDBGS? What are we doing with it? The amount that is uh uh actually um the amount that is diverse to the community different programs and also the u the home funds.
>> Sure, I'd be happy to if I could just interject. We will be having a public hearing. I'm not sure we ordered one. So that will be coming up I'm sure in a couple weeks. Of course you feel free to ask whatever questions you want right now but that would I would imagine be coming up in a couple weeks. >> Yeah it will be it will happen but I mean there is a lot of people that is
interested that have raised the question. >> Sure. So um community development block grant funds are allocated to um communities around the country from the US department of housing and urban development. Um it is a formula grant
and we are allowed to spend 15% of that grant on what we call public service activities. So we run an RFP process every year where nonprofit organizations can apply for these funds and we have an advisory board that makes
recommendations to the mayor um who then has the opportunity to review those recommendations and make changes as he sees fit. Um this year we are awarding $231,000 to various nonprofit organizations
within the city. Um the community development department also administers some of the funds for um park and infrastructure improvements. Um we use um funds for and matched to a lead abatement grant that we received for um
$7.3 million. And we also use funding um to support our administrative costs to operate um our departments. The home investment partnership program, often just called the home program, is geared towards
providing affordable housing to low and moderate income individuals. Um we provide down payment assistance. We have um a 15% set aside for community housing development organizations, which are nonprofit organizations that work in
particular areas in the community and either um build affordable rental housing or home ownership units. And we also have funding set aside for um the creation of some rental housing. And a small amount, 10% is allowed to be spent
on administrative costs. Madame Madame chair of the uh budget and finance committee uh >> I believe that uh this motion should be to order a public hearing. >> Correct. Yes.
>> Yep. So I accept the friendly amendment to reflect the actual numbers and to um order public hearing on the on the matter. >> All right. There is a motion um on this matter to uh accept the proper amount and to order a public hearing on this
specific amount. It was properly second discussion. Any other discussion? I hear none. All those in favor, please. Uh Madame Chair, please call the role. >> Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Marl, >> yes.
>> Council Council Infante, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. Council del Rosario noted as temporarily absent. Council plant, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries.
>> Thank you, councilors. >> Thank you. Item 13426. Item 134-26 is the water rate adjustment proposal and it was sent off to the full council as a favorable recommendation to order a
public hearing. >> I really forgot. >> Oh, he told me >> he didn't I didn't hear >> second. Yeah, that there's a motion in front of us properly. Second discussion. This is to order a public hearing, right? >> Mhm. >> Yes. >> All right. Uh discussion on the matter.
Uh counselors, we have received that uh that a couple other suggestions and other more information to be reflected um potentially on your research um just for uh you to do your your part uh your
part of the research when you take the when it comes to take the vote. Any other uh questions? I hear none. Madame Madame Clair, please call the role. >> Council plant. >> Yes. Council del Rosario. >> Yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Councelor Infante,
>> yes. >> Council Marmal, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Councelor Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Item 135, Madame Chair, from the Bay Finance Committee. >> Council President, like to recuse myself
from this matter for apparent conflict of interest. Thank you. >> No problem. U item 135 26 26 m chair from the vi finance committee >> item 135-26 authorization to expand $28,000
from of the mass D sustainable materials recovery program fund grant was set was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. There's a motion in front of us. Properly second. Discussion.
Uh that recycling coordinator is is here. Yeah. Councilor, any questions? Just remind everybody like the weeks that you we're going to have these u these opens for that the DPWs.
>> Good evening counselors. Nelson Silva, recycling coordinator. Um, so we will be starting that. I'm going to be sending out uh communication uh within the next week on that. Uh the household hazardous waste Saturdays
uh would be starting May 9th uh at the DPWard uh 31 Auburn Street from 8 to 12 where you can come and bring your household items. Um and we will be there. Um it be two Saturdays per month
until October. >> So household items, make sure that you specify which ones. >> Yeah. So um you know TVs, computers, monitors, um small appliances, uh electronic uh components, uh
stereoss, let's just say uh radios, uh batteries, uh motor oil, antifreeze, uh the list is pretty long. So yeah, so um there's uh there's a long list
especially uh with people who have their stuff um you know over the winter and want to bring it um now is the time. So >> okay a specific item that going to be announced by the uh by the by your department right? >> Uh yeah I will be sending out
communication citywide and posting it um for uh the residents um pretty soon. >> All right thank you. Any questions, councilors? >> I hear none. Madame Clair, please call the role. >> Council Gonzalez, >> yes.
>> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Marvel, >> yes. >> Council Fonte, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Plant, noted as momentarily absent. Oh, he recused. I apologize. Um, Council Vice
President, >> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> All right. Item 15326. Madame uh chair from the budget and finance committee. >> Item item 153-26.
Authorization to expand $35,000 um for the fisc year 26 firefighter safety equipment grant from the executive office of public safety and security 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. I hear none. Madame Clair, please call the role. >> Council Lante, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Councelor Infonte,
>> yes. >> Council Marmal, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. Uh personal committee.
Madame chair of the personnel committee. Item 13726. Item 137-26 is the reappoint of Joseph R. Corderoni to the Greater Lawrence Sanitary
District Commission 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 discussion council plan. >> Is the person here? >> Yeah, he's here.
>> I I I want council president to stand up. Would you please stand up? Council president, >> former council president. >> I I So there's testimony. There is life after the council. Just because you leave the council doesn't mean you give
up on public service. And and and Joe, Mr. Mr. Corderon, excuse me, has been um listen, you got a proper title. I'm going to give it to you. Uh the council president, one of my first ones uh when I was serving here, um um has stayed
involved in our city in various capac. Can you please step to the microphone, please? >> I mean, honest to goodness, you you weren't always this shy. I don't know what happened, but when we did, >> but how many years have you been doing this, council president? how many years
>> is for what the uh GLSD >> since uh 2010. >> So it's been 16 years now going strong and and and you love it I think. >> Well, it's it's the JLSD is uh is a very good uh they do a lot of work uh for the
city. They do great things. We get some great um we have a great executive director, Sher Cousin, who gets a lot of grants from us. She's loved by the federal government. She's loved by the state. millions of dollars come in and um Sherry runs um tours and I believe uh
councelor Del Rosa Rosario >> del Rosario and my middle name is Rosario but I don't have Dell in front of it so forgive me but he went on the tour the mayor and any council that would like to go on a tour they could either call Sher or myself would be glad
to do it and I think you'll find it a very impressive facility and counselor He loved it that day and I I wish it would would go there. Um there's with four communities. All Lawrence is has four commissioners.
Mthuan has two commissioners. North Andover has one and Andover has one. So we're the dominating force there, but we also pay the biggest lion share of of the budget. But we get to do a lot of good things with it. Salem is on in the
system and Drake, but they have no voting uh authority. But I asked Sherry to prepare not a meal from the chateau for the I got a meal for your brain, which is these handouts.
And I got one for every park it over here. I have one for every counselor and I have one for um the city clerk, Alen Brell. It's very detailed. I think you'll really like it and maybe this will inspire you to to go on a tour and
I I think you'll really enjoy it. So, if I could Yes, sir. >> Counselor. Um, >> that's one way of passing it on. But, um, um, Mr. President, I I want to thank you and I want to thank the counselors for allowing me to speak, but I also want to thank uh the chair of the
personnel committee, councelor Infante, and the members of the personnel committee for sending me up to the board uh the commission with a favorable recommendation. I hope you also feel the same way. >> I love being involved with the city and I really appreciate you giving me
another opportunity to return. My wife said keep it to a limit. She's watching me behind, so I'm going to keep it short. But thank you for everything and thank you for be allow allowing me to be of service to the city. And my good friend Mark Llland, he always speaks highly of me. Uh
I don't know why. >> For how long did you ser you serve in the council? >> What? 10 10 years. Eight years. Eight years. >> Eight years. >> Yeah. >> So you've been serving for over what? >> Well, I enjoyed it. I met a lot of good people. Uh, like I told councelor Plant
a long time ago, we're not here forever. We're just passing through, but while you're passing through, enjoy it. And I have a lot of great memories. And and the small amount of negativity, there's nothing. Just ignore it because there'll always be that small amount. Eileen
Bernalo, former city council representing our district. She did an outstanding job. So, but I also I'm going to say one I'll stop after this. I'm impressed what you did in this this chamber. And that goes to show me if you
can do this, which some people think, well, what's what's the big this is a big deal what you did. I don't think anybody realizes what you had to go through to make this happen. Very impressive. The town is coming here. We not only look like other communities, we look better than other communities. So,
good job in getting this room done. I'm done. Thanks again for everything. >> Thank you. Any questions? Councilors council president councel >> Rosario council still have the floor. I was just going to add one little tidbit. Council president Cordon was my very
first council president back in 1998. >> 1893 >> 1893 or or thereabout um and then put me on none of the committees I wanted to be on. So thank you so much. I appreciate that. >> Thank you Rosario. Uh thank you to your council president and I want to
encourage my colleagues to go on a tour. Uh it's not just an amazing facility also Mr. Coroni loves what he does and when somebody that loves what he does give you a tour it transmit to you what actually they do. I mean it was a fun day when I was there a few years ago and I still remember. So we should plan to
go back and you guys should be amazed of what kind of plant do we have there and what kind of people actually run that place. Thank you councel president. >> Thank you >> council president. Councelor Madame Chair from the Bay uh from the personnel committee. >> Thank you, Council President. I just
want to thank um Joe for his patience. He was away and couldn't attend um the personnel committee. Uh but he worked with myself, with the city clerk, and and our secretary to ensure um that he had a statement ready for us and
advocated for his um reappointment. And I also want to say and the reason for that is because his son was retiring from 27 years of Border Patrol service um to our nation. So um he was spending time with his family. So thank you for
that. And um and now it's more on a personal level. But Joe, when you and I speak over the phone and you give me advice and your wisdom, we we stay on the phone for a while. So I appreciate your guidance when you do um give me those advice and and we see eye to eye
more than we don't. So I I appreciate that and I hope to continue um the open communication with you former counselor. >> Right. Um thank you councilors. We also have the commissioner of the water and sewer department for the city of Lawrence that is here in support of this
item. U any other questions? All right. Madame, Madame Clair, please call the RO. >> Councelor Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Mamo, >> yes. >> Council Infonte, >> yes.
>> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council La Plant, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. Congratulations. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
>> All right. Item 15426, appointment of Madame Chair from the Personal Committee. >> We had a request to table that. >> Item 154-26, the appointment of Modesto Maldonado to the Greater Lawrence um St.
Sanitary District Commission was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. >> Second. >> There's a motion on the in front of us properly. Second uh that uh the applicants have the administration have requests to table these matters. Can I hear a motion to table? >> Motion to table. >> Second.
>> A motion to table properly. Second. No discussion on the table matters. All those madame cla >> yes. >> Council del Rosario. >> Yes. >> Councel Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Infante. >> Yes. >> Councelor Marmal. >> Yes. >> Councelor Miguel is noted as absent.
Council Gonzalez. >> Yes. Council Vice President Levy. >> Yes. >> Council President Rodriguez. >> Yes. >> Do we have any any uh any other city employee that is here? Um >> okay. We're going straight to the
ordinance committee. Madam chair from the U and vice president of the of the council uh levy. Uh let's present the ordinance committee. >> Thank you.
So item 15 I'm going to take it as a item 5926 item 10226 item 10326 parking item 5926
parking 136 item 1026 parking 83 Pennington Street and item 10326 is a handicap parking 214
street with favor recommendation to order a public hearing. >> All right, this motion is to take it as a block and to order a public hearing for the three items. It's been properly second discussion. >> Council President, um vice president's
mic is not working. I did not hear anything that that she stated. >> Trade you can try this one out. >> All right. Uh those items areas, can you hear me? >> Yes, I can hear you. Everyone else perfectly. It was just um
>> item 5926, 1026, and 10326. Those three items which are which are handicap parking uh those were taken as a block. uh to order a public hearing. It's been properly second. The motion
has been properly second. Discussion. I hear none. Uh Madame Clair, please call the role. >> Councelor Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Marl, >> yes. >> Council Infante, >> yes.
>> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Lant, >> yes. >> Council Levy, >> yes. Council President Rodriguez. >> Yes. Motion carries. Madame, uh, Madame Chair, Vice President Levby. Uh,
the next item is item 11726. >> Item 11726 is a Barbie Transportation LLC. A that is not a renewal. This is a new license for Atazi Liberty license by Ivan
Officer Ivan Sto. It was with favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion. >> All right. There is a motion in front of us properly second. Uh can uh officer Sto can you can you come over?
>> Officer Sto Lawrence Police. Good evening honorable city council. Madame clerk uh uh Balby Transportation is a new livery company. Uh we presented them last week on the 14th. So we're hoping to present them also with along the
other taxi companies and delivery companies today also for your final approval. Uh they filled out all their paperwork. Uh they passed all the backgrounds. Everybody's properly licensed. Registrations are in um and have a favorable um recommendation from the Lawrence Police Department. The
intent of this company is >> the intent of this company is to do regular uh transportation around the city or any contract transportation. >> Correct. Contract uh and in and out around the city. We actually do have a representative here if you would like to
ask any questions also. Um so any questions counselors. >> Hi Jamie Bald 272 High Street. Any questions? Um u just to make sure people people uh understand there is two different
licenses. One is is uh one which one is is for uh liberty taxes and taxes >> which we I believe we have 150 medallions for taxes >> and then we have quite a few >> um liberty. Can you specify the numbers
also how many liberty um uh we have? So as of right now we have Balby Transportation, we have Rioondo, L&M, Luke's and VP. Those are deliveries. So those are the ones that are pre-arranged versus the taxi companies where they
hail a fair. >> Understand? Any questions counselors on this new license? I hear not. U Madame Clair, please call the role. >> Council Lant. >> Yes. >> Council Del Rosario. >> Yes. Council Reyes,
>> yes. >> Councelor Infante, >> yes. >> Council Mamo, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. >> Motion carries.
>> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> All right. We will we'll uh we'll go back to the taxis u and liberties the rest the reminding of them once we finish with that u with the ordinance committee since we're going to just keep on going on the uh appreciate it >> in order item 14126 m chair
>> item 14126 is the removal of the handicap parking 18 street was favor recommendation to order a public hearing and make as a formal motion >> there's a motion in front of us properly second uh discussion I hear none. Uh, Madame Clair, please
call the role. >> Sorry. Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Maml, >> yes. >> Council Infonte, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Plant, >> yes.
>> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. Item 14, 1426. Item 1426 is the proposed ordinance for finance officer. Um the ordinary number is uh
02.72.070. I don't know if the city attorney is here. >> No, this is to order a public hearing >> and it's a favor recommendation to order a public hearing. >> All right. This is a motion to order a public hearing. Properly second discussion. I hear none. Back please
call the role. Um, council plant, >> yes. >> Council del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Infonte, >> yes. >> Council Mamo, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy,
>> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. Item 14596. Item 14526 Jamaada and the company parks June 6, 2026 in
September 19, 2026 was sended to the full council with favor recommendation but also we are waiting for a clearance in the September 1926. of um
they were supposed to come today and bring the information that we needed. >> We have it >> for >> Do you have it? >> Printing a document. Yes. >> But September, that was for September. So June was okay.
June 6 was okay. But September the 19th Sonia Sonia will come back. I mean, we still have time. Is Joe Jones here? They don't have the clearance. >> Do you do we do you receive the documents?
>> We're just checking on the documents to make sure that they have all the clearance for September 19. The timing for this uh for this event is going to happen from between uh 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. And
uh all that the speaker are supposed to be towards the uh public that are going to be participating. I don't have it. >> All right, we are good for June 6. Menture, do you want a table? We still have time. >> Can we approve? That's the one for
>> pending >> for June 6. >> Yeah, we can definitely approve for approve the one that we have clearance which which is June 6. June 6. >> And then we can add that item as a business. >> Yeah. >> All right. Uh can we did do you mind uh
modifying your your um approval for only June 16? June June 6. >> Okay. >> So >> we can we can approve this item just
only from June 6 uh and submit it uh for the next meeting again pending the approval of September 19th. That's your motion. >> That's the motion. >> All right. The motion is to approve uh this item only for June 6, 2026 until we
have clearance for September 19, 2026. Uh can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second discussion. Council plan. >> Just just to make it a little bit easier. If June 6 looks good and they do get clearance from their recreation department that there is no conflicts,
my recommendation would be just to approve it pending submission to >> the city clerk that that there is that the date is free. >> So they have two dates. >> That's right. So they're missing they're missing the 19th. They got the 16th. So
I would submit I would recommend that we pass both >> pending the yellow sheet. I call it the gold sheet with it with the date saying that they've got permission or the date is free. I don't I don't see any other problems with saying go ahead and do it as long as there's no conflicts. No one
else is using it. If there is a conflict, then they don't get it and they got to come before us anyway. If there isn't a conflict, then I have no objection for them using it without having to come back before the council and do anything else. Just my that's my recommendation. And if that sounds good,
I like to make a friendly amendment. counc >> uh do you submitting this as a friendly amendment because we have an motion in front of us. I mean there is plenty of suggestions. We have a suggestion. She discussed it. She liked it. But if you have a friendly amendment that she accepted uh and then we can move on on
that. >> Yeah, I'm going to offer it as a friendly amendment. I'm not going to go crazy on it, but yeah, that's my friendly amendment. >> You accept that friendly amendment? Yes, I accept the friendly amendment. Council President >> Councel Rosario >> and my and my I mean through you and what I believe is we should table the
matter completely and have them come back as June just in case I mean we're not even splitting the document so not yet nothing has been split so which document are they going to come back on if we approve half of it where it hasn't been split what I would recommend is to table it's June the first that they have
in case that they go there and September is not available that is stable there for the full uh the full item so So they come in with a new day in case that's not available. We'll pull up the the whole item back into the console and we approve the whole item. So it's again it's June. There's still plenty of time.
>> All right. There is suggestions and there is motions. Do you submit that as a motion? >> A formal motion. >> All right. There is a motion to table. Can I get a second? >> Can I get a second? Motion fell for lack of second. >> Second.
>> Second the motion. This uh no discussion. Madame clerk, please call the role. >> This is on the motion to table. Councelor Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Councelor Miguel is noted as absent. Council Mama, >> yes. >> Council Infonte.
>> Yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council La Plant, >> no. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> no. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> uh, yes. What's the count? Um 1, two,
three, four, five, six, six in favor. >> Motion carries. Item 14726. Madame chair from the from the ordinance committee. >> Item 14726 is the day of the Bible celebration. Um, uh, the company owner park is going
to be September the 26, 2026, uh, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. by Eglesia Christristiana Metoista was sended to the full council for with favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion. >> There's a motion in front of us. Can you
hear a second? Properly second discussion. >> I hear none. Madame Clair, please call the role. Council council plant. >> Yes. >> Council del Rosario.
>> Yes. >> Council Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Infante. >> Yes. >> Council Marmal. >> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Councelor Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Council Levy. >> Yes. >> Councelor um Council President Rodriguez.
>> Yes. Motion carries. Item 1486. Make a motion to reconsider my vote >> for what item >> on this matter >> that we just passed >> on the item 1476. >> Fine. >> Correct. >> Uh okay. There is a motion to reconsider. Can I get a second?
>> Second. >> Properly second. >> Discussion. >> Discussion. >> The reason for this is that in our notes here from the Lawrence Police Department on a safety matter and police presence myself. I don't see anything in here. Maybe it's there. I just don't know. I just feel like I need to ask that
question. Madame chair there is any documentation mission >> pass is for iron 14726 >> 14726 >> as far as I know there was no documentation missing >> madame cla there is any documentation
missing >> I don't know >> 442 46 Just with all the roll calls, it's just hard to have every single file. Um, >> yep. I got it. >> Full council favorable recommendation
pending notification from Lawrence Police Department safety matter and price of police. >> Do they need specialization? >> We don't usually know. >> We don't usually have that. >> Do you know why that came up? Do you
remember the discussion at I will say the recreation doesn't usually give out the yellow sheet till they have the sign up from the police. So that's why I'm not confused where that came from. Do do you know where that came from? Like >> yeah, they already Okay. Um through you, council president. Uh okay. They said
they they show and they said that they going to get it that the the paper and that's is what I say. Okay. So bring everything together. Uh because it was not it was not in there. Yes. >> What was not there though? >> The police uh um the the police uh
report. We usually don't get >> we don't get anything if because of recreation they they get the approval on on the system and then they give the okay once everything is approved. That am I correct? >> Yeah. Yeah. But are they >> they usually get from police?
>> Yes. >> So they get everything approved and then they give out the notice. This is what they said that everything was approved but they have some paper that they didn't bring that we when we ask when we add a question to them regarding what is
said in here in the in the information. >> I got a motion. >> So right out >> well there is a motion to reconsider properly second. >> It's already a table. >> It's already a table.
consideration. >> I'm sorry. I can't keep up with this. Um, so council plant made a motion to reconsider. And who seconded it? I apologize. >> Thank you, councelor. Um, >> 147. >> Yeah. >> Um, councelor Gonzalez.
>> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. This is just to reconsider. Council Marmal. >> Yes. Council Infonte. >> Yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council La Plant, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy,
>> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Motion to table. >> Motion to table. >> Second. >> Can I hear a second? Properly second. Discussion. No discussion on the table matters. Madame Clair, please call the RO. >> Can I make Can I make a clarification?
>> No. No clarification on the table matters. Madame Clair, please call the role. >> Council Lant Motion to table. >> Yes. >> Council Del Rosario. >> Yes. >> Council Reyes. >> Yes. >> Council infante. >> Yes. >> Council Mama.
>> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Levy. >> No. >> Council President Rodriguez. >> No. Motion carries. Item 148.26.
>> One. Item 14826 is the three on three basketball scholarship tournament from gracing at the Escarido Park on June 6, 2026 from 700 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. >> Second by Lawrence Community was sended
to the forecast with favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion. >> There's a motion in front of us. >> Second >> properly second. Uh discussion on the matter. >> Discussion council Rosario. Thank you to you uh council president. This is one of my favorites event. Um I love Okay. Uh
their preparation. I I I would love to see >> the whole city taking on on on this park the way they do. Um and the preparation for this event. Like I'll go every year what they have it. At least I pass by and then I then I enjoy the fiesta afterwards, right? But uh we should
focus on on that park a little bit more. It's a beautiful park right bound the river and what they do to to the preparation to the preparation for this event is amazing and they try to continue to have it clean but somehow we lacked on attention on that area. Um and
we should put more attention on that area and our park which is a again once again it's a beautiful park right down the river. It's like it's like hiding germ. It's like on the back you not going to see it from the outside unless you go inside. But the way they do this tournament every year is amazing. And
again, like I always do, I encourage my colleagues to pass by, enjoy the basketball tournament. It's early, but you go in, pass by, see the kids, see everybody playing, and then enjoy the fiesta afterwards, which which is coming. There's an item coming after that. So, thank you. >> All right. Any other questions? Counselors.
>> Um, I hear none. Madame Clair, please call the role. >> Councelor Gonzalez, >> yes. Council Miguel is noted as absent. Councelor Marl, >> yes. Council Infonte, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes.
>> Council Lant, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. Uh, item 14929, which is the same organization. >> Yes. Um, item 14926.
26 or >> new street park on June 6, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Uh that was submitted with federal recommendation and I from Lawrence
and I for motion. >> There's a motion on the table properly second uh discussion. Just tell us a little more about that um the fest show. >> Sure. So, um, good evening, um, counselors. Um, the party delario, um,
attracts over 500 city residents. Um, and it's designed to build community, connect neighbors, offer resources, and celebrate our community's diversity. Um, we continue also our relationship with the Lawrence Police Department um, to create partnerships and relationship
building with our community during this event. >> Just name and address for the record, please. >> I'm sorry. Jariso in behalf of Robins Community Works 168 um Newberry Street. >> All right. Uh any questions counselors? >> All right. I hear none. All those Madame
Clair, please call the RO. >> Council La Plant, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Councelor Infante, >> yes. >> Council Mamo, >> yes. >> Councelor Miguel is noted as absent. Council Gonzalez, >> yes.
>> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. Council President Rodriguez. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Item 1526. >> Thank you. Have a nice evening. >> Item 1526. >> Item 15026 is the Bohemia Sunset Events
2026. Warehouse Park Thursday uh from June 18 to September 10 26 from uh 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. was sended to the full council with favor
recommendation and I make as a formal motion. >> There's a motion in front of us properly second. Uh discussion >> discussion council >> I'm voting for this no surprise big fan been there I think I got season tickets
and it's u they're they're really good um I just because you're here and and you're doing it the right way. Um this is like the second year in a row that this organization has come before the council and and is doing it the right way. I I also now want to take it one more step so we can continue doing
things even better and even more be more right or continuing with that progress that you're making on doing the right stuff. So when when things are placed on this public place um there really needs to be an approval of the council for for
things to be on there that that are more of a permanent nature. Like sometimes there are some beautiful statues and things of that nature. Of course, we love the umbrellas, for example. I think that's caught in this particular um in the application. So, I saw that that so that's fine. But but but but there
should also be it's it's again I remind I want to remind the proponents here this it is a public space. We should treat that space as we treat the campon common, Okonnell Park or Skerito Park or any other park in the city as a public place. If somebody wanted to put
something more permanent in any one of those parks, it would be expected that they would come before the council and say, "We are going if it's not done by the mayor's office," which is a different story. But if an outside group were to come in, then we would have that. So, I would just just be mindful of that as you decide to make the place
beautiful, which you are, but it does have a requirement because if we don't do what we're supposed to be doing, then someone else comes says, "Well, that group's doing how come you're making me do this now?" it puts us in a very difficult position. So, I think you can understand that. And so, if you're doing anything else, I would ask that you come
before the council and say, "We want to do whatever it is. Put this up here for the summer or whatever it is that you're looking to do. Just come before the council." That's it. Thank you. >> Uh I think it's important to clarify that uh if they do it through their recreational department or the mayor's office, as you mentioned, that's another
story. So if you didn't come if you cannot come to the to the uh to the council you can also might seek permission from uh or partnership perhaps uh with the two other uh department that I just mentioned
recreational department or the mayor's office. >> Okay. Um as a volunteer for for the organization I'll be directing >> the name and address for the record please. >> Um Johansson Martinez uh 30 Montgomery Street. um as a voluntary for the organization. Uh I'll be directing the
the issue for the uh directive on I know that they're going to be working on that because I know it's just they take all the the all the art stuff that we have in inside
and inside the building, take it outside during when it's sunny, when it's a good uh weather. But as you stating it's actually it should be that way and we're focusing on doing the right the right way doing everything by the law. So I'm
going to be addressing to addressing that to the directive. Thank you for >> bringing that to >> Thank you. Any other questions counselors? >> All right, get ready to enjoy the show. >> Thank you so much. >> Madame Clair, please call the role.
>> Um councelor Gonzalez. >> Yes. Councelor Miguel is noted as absent. Council Marvel, >> yes. >> Council um Invante, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council La Plant, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes.
>> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Item 15126, Madame uh chair of that ordinance committee. 15126. Iron 15126 is the Greater Lawrence Family Hair Center Community
Health Fair at the Campanon Common Parks on May 29, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. as submitted by the Greater Law Family Hair Center was sended to the Ford Council with favor recommendation
and I make it as a formal motion. >> There's a motion in front of us. Uh >> second >> properly second discussion. >> I hear none. Madame Clair, please call the role. >> Council Lant. >> Yes. >> Council Del Rosario. >> Yes. >> Council Reyes.
>> Yes. >> Councelor Infonte. >> Yes. >> Council Marmal. >> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Levy. >> Yes. >> Council President Rodriguez. >> Yes. Item 15226.
Iron 1522 is the recurring spirit for Christa de orion 2026 at the campan common park May 30 2026 from 400 p.m. to 700 p.m.
was was sended to the full council with favor recommendation and I make it as a formal motion. >> There's a motion in front of us. >> Second >> properly second. Discussion >> I hear none. Although madame cler please call the role.
>> Council councel Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Mamo >> yes. >> Councelor Invante. >> Yes. >> Council Reyes. >> Yes. >> Council del Rosario. >> Yes. >> Council La Plant. Yes. >> Council Vice President Levy.
>> Yes. >> Council President Rodriguez. >> Uh yes. Let's go to table matters. Uh if there is no objection, we have a few items here that uh we need to unt um everybody that is um related to those
matters are present. Um, those are item item 114 26, 115 26, 116 26, 118 26, 119 26, 120 26, 121 26, 1226, and 123 26. Can I get those as a block
and to unt. >> So move. >> Second. There's a motion to untable uh all those uh all all the items mentioned before. Properly second. Uh Madame Clair, please call the role. >> Council plant. >> Yes.
>> Council del Rosario. >> Yes. >> Council Reyes. >> Yes. >> Council Fonte. >> Council Infante. >> Yes. On table. >> I don't think she can hear us. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Thank you, Council. >> Yes, I can hear you. >> Okay. Thank you. Councelor Miguel is
noted as absent. Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. >> Well, you didn't get me, but yes. >> Oh, you didn't get I >> think I just gave you credit. I'm so sorry. >> Uh item 11426, Madame Chair, from the
bal finance comm ordinance committee. >> Item 11426 is the America ti renewal of the tassi and liberty license. 1152 is deliver incorporation renewal
renewal of the TA delivery license item 116 20 >> No no no no just let's we we untable it so let's do it one by one >> huh >> we unt let's do it one by one >> that's is what I'm doing one one by one >> yeah let's do it one by one4 26 first
is what I did >> okay >> this is what I'm doing 116 26 Now >> he doesn't want to take them as a block. He wants to he >> we're doing it one by one. >> He doesn't want to take them as a block. He's saying to do them one by one. Okay.
>> Item 11426 American taxi renewal of the license and liberty license uh by office Ibang Sto Lawrence Police Department. >> Good evening again city council. Madame clerk uh American taxi is uh renewing
their license and is looking for the final approval of the city council. They have uh completed all their forms, every driver's licensed, all their registrations have been in um and in compliance. >> Uh out of the American taxes, how many medallions are on that company?
>> Uh I'm not sure off the top of my head. I have >> I have the owner here American. So >> so uh they own both American and Liberty and Liberty. >> So between both companies it's 35
>> 35 >> 35 >> say 35 >> between American and Liberty. >> Got it. Counelors any questions? >> Any question?
So, just a preview of coming attractions. I know we're going one by one. >> Sure. >> Is there anyone coming up that you're not going to give a favorable recommendation to or they're all going to get favorable recommend? >> They're all going to get favorable. Yeah, we we've gone through the process over the last few months. I came into it December and
>> it's been painstaking, but we got them through. >> Gotcha. Thank you so much. >> We don't have a second for this motion. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Properly second. So, uh, for the item 11426, any questions? I hear none. Um, madame
cler, please call the vote. >> Um, council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Mamo, >> yes. >> Council Fonte, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Lance,
>> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. >> Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. Item 11526. >> Item 11526 is the Li Liberty Taxi Inc. renewal of the taxi and liberty license
office Ibang Sto. >> Again, as I said uh previously uh Liberty Taxi also, which is owned by the same uh folks, they're in compliance with everything and they've uh properly filled out all their paperwork, all their licenses,
uh registrations are all in order. >> All right. Between American Taxi and Liberty Taxis that is 35 medallions in total, right? >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Any questions, counselors? >> We don't have a motion on the table. >> Can I get a second? >> Properly second. Any questions? Who be
the motion? Who made the motion? >> Council 11. >> Council 11%. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh, all those in favor, Madame Clair, please call the role. >> Council Lant, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Reyes,
>> yes. Councelor Infante. >> Yes. >> Yes. No. >> Um. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council ML. >> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Levy. >> Yes.
>> Council President Rodriguez. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Item 11626. >> Item 11626 is the popular taxi corporation LRC. Renewer of Ti li officer Ivan Sto I was send to the full
council with favor recommendation I make as a formal motion second >> there's a motion on the table probably second discussion officer just the same question for everybody how many medallions we have in popular taxes okay
so 52 are affiliated ated with a popular taxi assigned to popular taxi. >> Got it. Any questions? Counselors, >> I hear none. All those mad clair, please call the role. >> Councelor Gonzalez,
>> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Councelor Marl, >> yes. >> Councelor Infante. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council La Plant, >> yes. Council Vice President Levy. >> Yes. >> Council President Rodriguez.
>> Yes. Motion carries. Uh item 11826. >> Item 11826 is the Mer Matasi Renew Artasi Liberty License Officer Ivan Sto was sended to the full council with favor recommendation and I make as a
formal motion. Second >> there's a motion on the table properly second. Um discussion >> same question. >> Okay. So Marramac Taxi has 32 medallions assigned to the company.
>> All right. Any questions counselors? >> I call the roll. >> Uh before we call the role, there is uh 31 medallions that are uh that are not uh allocated to anybody. Do you have an answer for that? because it's a total of 150.
>> I have a uh an Excel spreadsheet that actually has all 150 assigned to each person and owner. Uh I wasn't aware that 31 are still missing. I can get back to the to the council on that. Uh but I do
have an actual Excel that has all 150 that are accounted for. Yeah, I mean uh out of the 150 uh we have 35 going to two companies 51 associated to popular taxi and then there is >> uh 32 marmak taxes. So
>> if I do the math correctly there is 31 missing. So whenever you have an an answer for that, >> yeah, I I will >> because I mean essentially um those 31s that are not associated with either one of these companies, >> um they are not being renewal,
>> right? So, if there there are several that I do know of that within the companies aren't being used right now, uh that may be because the vehicles are out of order or they're ordering new vehicles, but they do still pay for those and are still uh in their
possession. So, but I can I can uh get an answer for the 31 >> unless that there is some that are not associated with a company with with an specific company and then we we we need to know about that. Well, yeah. All all 150 again, as far as I know, I'm still
I'm being onboarded to this process. All 150 are between these four companies. There is no other company at this time that's using uh the medallion system. So, u I will get clarification and I can get that to you guys this week. >> Perfect. So, essentially prepare prepare
us a report. >> Yes. >> Uh on those medallions and the taxis uh of the city of Lance and that way we can have a better clarification. Absolutely. >> Thank you so much. Counselors, any questions? Um, I hear none. Madame Clair, please go.
>> I think I don't think that counselor um councelor is no longer part of the meeting. Uh, councelor Infante is not is not part of the meeting at this point. So, madame chair. All those in fail, please say I. I. >> Any names?
>> The eyes have it. Item 119 uh 26. That's is what the one that we did right now. >> No, this is a Rio. >> This is a Rioondo. Okay. 11926 Grioondo Transport LLC renew Arotasi Li license
uh by Ivan Officer Ivan Sto was sended to the food council with favor recommendation and I do it as a formal motion. >> Uh there is a motion in front of us properly. Second discussion discussion council. >> Thank you very much. I I I could have
picked any one of the this one just for no reason. Uh one of the um things as you're going through this through you council president to officer stood is you're going through you're making the recommendations and we appreciate that. I'm relying on you. >> Sure. >> Um I don't have the wherewithal, the
bandwidth or the expertise to go and figure out each cab and is is safe for our residents and I rely on you to do that. So I feel and I feel comfortable doing that. My question though is dealing with calves versus liveries
>> and I and I'm getting a sense although I've got nothing to back this up with, >> but I just wanted to see if you have anything that can help me get a better handle as we're going through the licensing process where it's this one or any other ones. Are there are there do do you get the sense that there are uh
that there are cars that are working as uh taxi cabs that have livery plates? >> So that's a great question. Uh again, I just got brought into this uh late December and from what I understand, uh Detective Heerty was already kind of
investigating other companies that are operating as either a livery or maybe as a gypsy cab, if you will. Um however, we don't really have the manpower right now
to really uh take on this massive uh job. But with what we do have, we're we're working on cutting back on it. These companies have been doing everything correct. They have been filling out their uh business
packets. They come in, they get vetted by the police department. We run the background checks. We make sure that they all have a hackne license to be able to operate in the city. They pay all their fees. So, in particular with these companies, we are 100% vouching for them.
>> Mhm. As for your question about do we believe that there are other companies or other people operating that are not following the regulations. Yes, >> that is definitely happening. >> And my Mike and I'll I'll end with this because this is not what this meeting is about, but I will end with this. We want
as a government to make sure that the playing field is level for everyone and that if someone is doing the right thing by coming before this council asking for a permit to be able to operate a cab and that they are operating a safe cab and they adhere to all the regulations and
they're very restrictive. >> So we go ahead and we say yes, you have a permit to to or license to operate your cab. And I just think that at a at a me moment of fairness that we need to make sure um and I realize the shortage and this may not be a priority but and I
don't know what if there's anything we as a body can do as a legislative body can do. >> We could talk offline on that but I just want to make sure that I I use my voice tonight to reflect stuff that I've either observed or I've heard from others that say this is a concern. Will
you please will you please raise it? So I just did. Thank you. We we are grateful for any help from city council, from the city uh in in helping us tackle this because quite frankly, one person just cannot tackle this entire job and and again uh I have other
responsibilities on top of this and I'm only one person. >> Uh but we are definitely grateful for the city council uh you know to to help assist in this. So in another word uh you you good in another word are we creating a problem within the liberty
and the taxes that's essentially what we want to know is there is taxes that are approved tonight >> Mhm. >> that are competing with the liberty taxes or the liberty companies that we are proving tonight. Therefore, uh or these liberties company that we're
approving tonight are just their u uh those company that have a specific contract with potentially hospitals and stuff like that that are not competing with the with their uh with their taxes that we just approved. So, I would
say from my understanding, from the little bit of time that I've been doing this, uh it's more so uh with the actual taxis with the gypsy cabs and some other people that are getting livery plates that we believe are operating either as
a livery um doing pre-arranged, you know, uh uh you know, pickups and some may be operating as regular regular taxi. So, some of that has already been taken care of uh by Detective Heggerty and uh
Sergeant Penitentagus last year. We really haven't heard too much about that particular um instance recently, but there are people that are driving around with livery plates that again we believe are operating as livery
companies that may be taking business away from the folks that are doing everything legit. that and and also that is important to recognize that other cities and towns around >> might approve the liberties those liberty uh those liberties company and they come over potentially to the city
of L to do business here. >> Exactly. And again this is something that that we we are working on trying to tackle and trying to understand because it's it's not right to the ones that are doing this right and doing it fair and paying all their fees and going through the business packets. Uh, so we're
trying to fight for them also and we're trying to get everybody else to fall in line and do what they got to do the right way. >> Council Rosari. >> Yeah. Thank you to you, Council President. And another note, Officer Sto, now that you new into this eventually, like next year, I would like
to see some type of training, safety training to the cab drivers also that they, you know, they can read and understand our ordinance, the noises, >> how to pick up and drop off the double parking. So somehow in the package, I don't know how we're going to do it that
says, "Well, they went into the proper training." I mean, again, I bring this complaint every year. They still taxi drivers that turn in the corner 4:30 in the morning, they beeping the horn like there's nothing else. So somehow we need to explain them this is the ordinance. You violating the ordinance. I mean, we're not chasing them. We're not
enforcing the ordinance, but somehow next year when they renew on the license, I will hope to see that they went through at least the ordinance noise complaints. We got it every year. I mean, again, I said it every year, they I don't need an alarm clock. At 4:30 in the morning, I got a cop driver that turns Arlington Street into Juniper
and it's going to pick up somebody right across the street from my house, but they beeping the horn from Allington all the way down 4:30 in the morning every day. I'm used to it, but I would love to see in their package next year. Listen, we went through this ordinance, they understand it, and they will be in
compliance. Also, listen, the drop off, pick up, double parking, somehow we need to address those. I mean the city is growing >> traffic jam >> dangerous the speeding on on on in the morning when they when kids are going to school >> they're speeding in the afternoon when
the kids have been dropped off from the school buses you can see some not all of it but you can see some taxi drivers and liberty driving flying through the bus to the school bus like they because they have to pick up Joe on another corner >> so they have to pick up Joe so we they need a rush and and it's dangerous so
somehow next year I would love to see in their package if they went through that type of training and they in compliance and then we can maybe enforce it. Right now they can come back and say listen we knew the ordinance but nobody walked us through this training. >> Yeah. >> Right. So hopefully we can do that sort of next year. You know >> I I totally agree counselor and honestly
in a perfect world what I would prefer to do is >> um be out in the street. you know, maybe have a team working with me and me out there in an unmarked vehicle and actually enforcing all of the the cabs also, you know, not just the the gypsy
cabs, but the ones that are here also, you know what I mean? Just to keep every everything fair and safe for the community. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other questions, counselors? >> Well, I will u ask the same questions just to be fair. Um, you know, the
liberty is a little different. Uh but I would like to know the type of vehicles that the delivery companies is running and also the amount of vehicles. >> Type and amount. >> Okay. >> Six. >> It's uh what type of a vehicle is it also?
>> Oh, there uh four minivans and two uh sedans. >> Four minivans. Yes. And >> two sedans. >> Two sedans. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
Any questions, counselors? Uh, I hear none. Uh, all those in favor, please say I. I. >> The eyes have it. Uh, now we going to item 120 126. >> It 1206 is the LMM transportation LLC
renewal of the taxi li. uh officer Ivan Sto was sended to the court council with favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion. >> All right, there is a motion in front of us properly second discussion. >> Hi, good evening.
>> Okay, so this is Rosemary from L&M Transportation Delivery Company and she has uh complied with all the paperwork and licenses and we have a favorable recommendation. >> All right. Um So seven, she has seven vehicles.
>> Transportation medical services minivan. >> Minivans minivans. Seven. >> Seven minivans. >> Okay. Question. Any questions? I hear none. Um, all those in favor, please say I. >> I.
>> The eyes have it. Item 12126. Item 12126, New York City, United Express, Inc. Renewal of Taxes and Liberty License. Officer Ivan Sto was sended with favor recommendation and I make as a formal
motion. Second there's a motion in front of us properly second discussion. I hear none questions. >> Okay. So transport. >> Yeah. >> So uh they have seven transport vans.
>> So say 614 and you want to >> 39. >> One one for 39. >> 39. Yeah. >> Okay. Any questions? I hear none. All those in favor please say I. >> The eyes have it. Any ns?
>> The eyes have it. Item 122 uh 26. >> Item 12226 BP Los Transportation LRC renew license officer Ivan Sto was sended with favor recommendation and I make it as a formal motion.
>> There's a motion in front of us properly second discussion. >> Yeah, >> I hear none. Uh yes, the same question. >> Uh Junior Peralta from 91 Brookfield Street right now. I'm running a Cadillac Escalade. Just one vehicle for now. >> One vehicle.
>> One vehicle. Any questions, counselors? I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. The eyes have it. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Item 12326. Iron 12326
is the looks line transportation LRC renew by officer Ivan Sto was sended to the food council with favor recommendation and he has a formal motion >> there's a motion in front of us properly
second discussion so Mr. Lockwood. He has something come up. He wasn't able to make it. Uh he sent me an email about 30 minutes before the meeting. Uh but he has one vehicle. Uh he again he filled out all the
paperwork. He has uh one Chevy Suburban that he uses. Uh Mr. Lockwood again, he complied with everything that we asked for. He did a background check. uh he was able to get a hackne license from us and we have a
favorable recommendation for him. >> Questions any counselors any questions? I hear none. All those in favor please say I >> may have it. Uh we're going back to top of the agenda which is public hearings.
Public hearings. Madame Madame Clerk, item 120 um 1825 Hendic Parking 140 uh Jackson Street and any item um >> No, we can do the other ones just you.
>> Okay, let's do item one uh 458 25 if there is no objection. All right, Madame Clair, please read the notice for this item. >> Notice is hereby given that the Lawrence
City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 200 Common Street, Lawrence Mass, pursuant to rule two of the acts of 2023. And in accordance with the recently revised city council rule two, this meeting will be hybrid,
allowing participation both in person and remotely to accommodate participants with health considerations that prevent them from participating in person. To receive access codes for the remote participation, please contact the city clerk at eileen.bal
city of.com or 978-620 3230 or view the meeting on Facebook and YouTube. The purpose of the hearing is to gather testimony, information, and public input regarding document number 458-25, a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance
and zoning map as follows. To amend zoning map for parcel of land on Parker Street, known as assessor's map 101, lot 55 from residential 2 from a residential two district/R2 to a local business district/b1.
Copies of the assessor's map in its entirety are on file with the office of the city assessor and copies of the portions of the assessor's map for the above reference petition can be found in the office of the city clerk and may be viewed upon request. Persons wishing to be heard shall be afforded the opportunity.
>> All right, the public hearing is now open. Anybody from the public that wishes to speak name and address for the record, please. >> Good evening, Attorney Dana Cohen. I have a floor office at 873 Turnpike Street, North Andover, Massachusetts.
And I represent the owner of the building at 128 Parker Street. George Desmet and Leia Desmond. They couldn't be here this evening. They are retired in Florida, but their daughter, Robin Desmond, is here in the back. She's a pharmacist. She used to work in this
building. Robin uh Desmond did inform me that this building uh although in a residential zone was used as a and operated as a pharmacy for over 61 years on Parker Street. So we're not looking to change a
residential building to uh a business building. This is this has always been a a a business building and my understanding is Parker Street uh has an ongoing issue with residential versus a business and there is um precedence for this. In fact, 191 Parker Street came
before the council for resoning. It was approved. Um, there are thriving businesses that are there and some may argue that even though our parcel is small and adjacent to another building that it's uh what they would call spot zoning, but
we believe the council uh in accordance with case law in Massachusetts has the discretion of considering reszoning a parcel where it has been used as a business for over 61 years um and is currently vacant, currently for sale. We
want to uh keep that as a a business and the the precedence of the 191 Parker is certainly a good example of why uh the council could again vote to approve this. So, as long as it's not arbitrary and it's consistent with the existing neighborhood, this neighborhood, I'm
sure you've all been down Parker Street. It consists of multi multifamilies, single families, and all kinds of businesses up and down Parker Street. We're not looking to do something unreasonable. We're looking to do something that's consistent with the current zoning. Um,
we do share some utilities with our neighbor. Uh, there is a party wall so we can arrange to >> pre-existing >> separate water and sewer and other utilities and uh we do have the uh hopefully what would be the buyers who
are here, Donald and Sarida Gomez who are sitting back here and um we do have the property under agreement for sale. They're intending to be a the next new business owner in the city of Lawrence and hopefully open up a uh a small laundromat that would serve a public
purpose for the city of Lawrence. So, we do appreciate the time. We do uh request that the the board approve our request. We have the unanimous approval of the planning board. Even though they're in advisory capacity, we were before them and made a presentation with the
planning board. The ordinance committee recommended approving going to a public hearing and um that completes my presentation. So I just going to ask Donald and Sonida Gomez to stand up and introduce
themselves. They're in the back. I can defer my time to them if the council permits. I know that we have some time limitations. >> Yeah, that's fine. Public hearing. You have no time limit. All right, >> good evening. Uh my name is Don Gomez.
Uh 198 Lancaster Road uh North Andover. Uh appreciate the time. Super grateful to be here. Uh I think that we could all agree that uh we're all here with the same purpose. Uh to make sure that uh we continue to make Lawrence a thriving community and that's our purpose. Uh
we're entrepreneurs and our goal is to make sure that uh we create valuedriven businesses that are principal driven and uh making sure that the community continues to to thrive. Um we want to be able to provide a service to the community. I personally own uh multiple
properties here in Lawrence and I'm a a great I consider myself a great a great landlord uh where I keep rents at a at a fair uh level, right? to make sure that the community uh is always uh thriving. So, I continue to want to invest my um
my capital into the city because I believe it's a it's a city that has a ton of opportunity and I think that a business like a laundromat is a a service type of business that will help uh continue to um make the um the city
thrive. So, again, I uh I I love to innovate. I want to make sure that I bring that that entrepreneurship spirit and that innovation into the city and um I hope that you guys could consider uh the the change of ordinance to from
residential to commercial to be able to open up that business. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else from the public that wishes to speak? >> Speak to me. >> Okay. Uh Robin Desmond. Um, my address, one Riverview Boulevard, and I do live
in Methuan. I'm the daughter of George and Leah Desmond, and they're the owners of formerly Packard Pharmacy, 128 Parker Street, the the building that we're talking about. Um, I want to thank the members of the Lawrence City Council for listening to this today. And I just
wanted to say that for three generations and over 75 years, my family has been working in Lawrence and serving the health care needs of the residents of Lawrence. I personally have been working in Lawrence at Packard Pharmacy since I was in high school up until last year when we actually had to
close the pharmacy. For 61 years, we have proudly served this community and we were able to provide caring, personalized service to the area residents. We served and we employed people from all walks of life and many different nationalities.
We employed hundreds of Lawrence residents, including mothers with school hour shifts and many students from Lawrence High School working their very first job. During the pandemic, we stayed open every single day so that we could administer vaccines on a walk-in
basis and further serve the needs of the community. In 2025, like many independentarmacies, we were forced to close our doors. Now that the business is closed, we need to sell the property. We are limited by the conditions of the
existing permit to a medical related use unless we receive approval from the city for an alternative use. The offer that we have in hand today is from the buyer who would like to operate a laundromat business at this existing location. This use would require an affirmative vote of
the city council. We feel that a new modern laundromat will provide a service to the residents of the neighborhood without imposing any significant new impact on the area. >> Uh in closing, I'd like to thank the members of the council. Thank you for
your time. >> Anybody else from the public that wishes to speak? >> Yes. >> Oh, name and address for the record, please. >> Soon as I get up there here. Thank you, Mr. President, members of the council, Bill Collins, one plat court. Um, not
here to speak on the pros and cons of the issue, but rather on the process that's followed. City has a a habit of not following the proper process to notify abutters in many of these cases. And I'm here to ask if the council's
packet includes a list of all the abuters, how far legally they had to be notified down the street or across the street, were the uh receipts returned from the post office because they must be sent out certified mail by ordinance.
If that's not in your packet, I think you should inquire as to why it's not there. Doesn't seem to be anybody here from the city to speak to that issue. But this has happened time and time again where abutters are not properly notified and given the chance to weigh
in on this and I'd like to know just how far that boundary goes who was sent notice were the uh receipts returned from the abuters. It's very unusual that there's not one person pro or con for the public. You would think uh citizens
would come forward one way or the other to speak on it if they were properly notified. The other issue is this building has obviously a historic element. It's well over a hundred years old. What is the historic commission's
uh input on this change of zoning? And I don't even know if the building will be demolished. If so, it's going to need a demolition delay order. And um you know it just uh seems like we don't have enough information. At least the
public does it. And as usual, whatever department is supposed to do the paperwork has no presentation for you, the counselors or the public. Thank you. So I asked those questions. If you have answers for me, it'll be uh helpful.
>> It should be in your packet. So can I ask through the chair? Is that information in your packet tonight? >> During the public hearing, we won't be able to answer it. But I mean, once we open it up for discussion, we can we can entertain discussion. >> Thank you, Mr. President. >> No problem. Anybody else from the public
that wishes to speak? >> Yes. >> Good evening, Mr. Council President. My name is Daniel A. Hayes Jr. I'm from the law firm of Morris Ross and Hayes, 32 Chestnut Street, Andover, Mass. and I represent the uh 130 Park Pocket Street
owner uh Ferman Family LLC in opposition of this um uh proposed reasonzoning as you know, and I hate to bore you with a legal argument, but this is a legal argument on spot zoning. Um some very hardworking people just made a present
presentation. And this is nothing about the uh their their work, but it's when you look at the um present zoning and you go from a um um R2 zone to a B1 zone, you've got the R2 district exists
to preserve medium inensity residential character, ensure safe and healthy living environment, and to ensure other use permitted uses permitted within the district is compatible with a single and two family zone. Reszoning a single
parcel within an R2 area to B1 introduces a higher intensity commercial use with the laundry mat. Ite affects uh 130 Park Street because of the parking. Right now it has a horrible parking situation with the school and everything. And I think a laundry mat
and my client strongly feels it would intensify. She's towing cars every day out of there to you utilize her her parking area and it's been it's been a problem. If this was a less intensive use, an office use, a business use, we
wouldn't be here tonight. So, we're here to go on the record to express that. There was my my uh counselor Dana Cohen, who's a good a lawyer, great lawyer, mentioned spot zoning. Uh the Massachusetts courts define spot zoning
as the singling out of a small parcel for different treatment from surrounding land primarily for the benefit of an owner and not in furtherance of the comprehensive zoning plan. This will happen if the amendment affects a single residential parcel surrounding
properties on the block remain two and the change appears driven by a specific purchaser seeking to operate a a different business. No comprehensive planning analysis as far as I know has been pres presented demonstrating a broader neighborhood benefit. A
reasonzoning undertaken primarily to fac facilitate a private sale which we have here which was testified to rather than to advance a citywide planning objectives risk being characterized as imper impressible impermissible spot
zoning. That is the Massachusetts case law. A laundromat, as we all know, a laundromat is a high parking in intensity use with concentrated peak demand, much higher use. Uh they have multi-hour customer stays, day, evening,
and weekend clustering, delivery, and service vehicles, and is frequent turnover. The Parker Street area already experiences on street and off- streetet parking pressures typical of a Lawrence residential neighborhood. We believe introducing a laundry mat will predictably increase congestion,
encourage double parking, impacts maybe driveway access as we find that driveway at 130 Parker Street is limited and reduce parking availability for residents. The problem in this instance is if you go before a planning board,
you go before a zoning board, you have to have some sort of comprehensive parking plan. by going through the resoning process. There's no one asked for a parking plan or uh on the site. So there's that any parking issues cannot be addressed because there's been no
study of them. They also mentioned 191 Parker Street which is a laundrymat. But one of the reasons for to do a zoning is is there any other need in the area? Well, there's another uh there's another uh laundry mat two blocks away. So I don't
know in changing this in changing putting some burden on 130 pocket street helps just because of that. Um the city council must independently determine whether the amendment serves the general welfare is consistent with
the comprehensive zoning plan and avoids imper impermissible spot zoning which I don't think it does and it must protect the neighborhood infrastructure and character. My brother also mentioned a uh separating the um the water meter and
the water line there 128. There's specific issues that we have to address because it's because of a a a small specific reasoning. We got to get into the use. So the use as a laundry mat as we know increases water the water use
dramatically. When there was a pharmacy, there was no issue between 281 120 and 130 on the water water bill. Never was. But uh the the annual water bill for a laundry mat runs into the tens of thousands of
dollars and 128 in the water meter is in my client's name. So that if something ever happened, God forbid, we don't plan for this stuff, but if the if they get behind on the planning, we could be shut off. And everyone has the best intentions, but things happen. But
again, with no or no pre-talk beforehand, this will be approved. And if we can't agree on how the water meter is going to get split or what, it's a problem. The other problem is with the two close water meters, there's going to be uh maybe a water meter issue on the
old water lines there. We don't know the capacity of water lines. And usually there's a test under undertaken by the Lawrence Water Department to te to test the hydraulic capacity of the uh property. That hasn't been done. So our
problem is with the intensity of the use. It's not a problem with a business or staying a business. We'd love the sellers to find something, but we definitely feel that the laundry mat's not the correct use for the property. And it does does uh represent spot
zoning. And there does create specific uh problems for 130 Parker Street, which I feel should be addressed before this uh this is approved or at least condition the thing the the the uh approval on having a parking plan put
out that we could review and working on the water meter and having a hydraulic capacity test done by the city of W Lawrence. uh for all those reasons I I would ask that you uh reject uh this proposal. Until that time uh those
questions are answered but uh I respectfully thank you for your time tonight this evening. >> Anybody else that wishes to speak? We have one person uh be before I mean uh he actually raised his hands first. Um yes.
>> Okay. No problem. >> Attorney Dana Cohen. >> Council President. I think we've already heard >> counterpoints. >> The gentleman from the gentleman for speaking. We typically don't go back and forth allow people to go back and forth. I know there will be questions that we
can certainly provide for the attorney, but but I don't think it's common that we allow more than one speaker to come back again. >> I mean, uh, we usually don't don't have anybody on public hearings, so we're happy that we have people today. At least I am. So, let's allow them to
speak. Thank you for allowing me to u proceed and u with all due respect to attorney Hayes who represents uh the owner of 130 Parker Street. We had already represented that the utilities would be separated. Um Miss Ferman actually made an offer to buy this
property on multiple occasions from my clients and the offers were too low. So we feel like she has a special interest in opposing what we're trying to do. We're not trying to change a residential property to business. We're trying to get a business to continue in this
location. The parking situation on Parker Street is pretty well divided. Plenty of room for cars along that street. And we just want a business to join other businesses that are already there like Arius Market, Gomez Supermarket, Cocoa Ray Restaurant, AAA
Auto Repair, Taekwondo, BM Mini Market, Hafner's Gas Station and the Car Wash, Century 21, Ferman Real Estate, Leader Bank, Triton Staffing, Cherry Tree Title. These are all mixed in with with residential housing. So the representation that this is just a
residential zone, that's that's incorrect. There are businesses that are operating out of Ms. Furman's building, and we're good neighbors, but they're all commercial businesses, so we're not sure how they're operating in that building, but we're not here to uh
denigrate what she's doing. It's not spot zoning if we're doing something consistent and running trying to create economic development for the city of Lawrence. We're doing what this council has approved previously in changing zoning for parcels that should be
business and not residential. Thank you for your time. >> Anybody else from the public that wishes to speak? >> Name and address for the record, please. >> Yes. Uh, hi council. My name is Andrew Charla. I'm uh the owner of 284 Andover Street in Lawrence. Uh it's my
understanding that with this selling of this property, it has to be sold for like a medical um reason. So an appropriate remedy for selling this would either be to be turned into like a drug rehabilitation center or a like a
halfway house sort of thing. So, I have great concern for that simply because my backyard of my property is adjacent to 200 Parker Street, which is a sober living halfway house. Um, we constantly have to call the police uh with these
individuals there um because a lot of them have a significant criminal history uh and they fight frequently with each other uh and usually threaten firearm and that kind of stuff as well. Um, so my concern is if this property then converts into another halfway house or
something like that, those circumstances may arise as well and this property is across the street from a school. Um, so for me that is really concerning that these potential scenarios can happen uh in the vicinity of a school. Um, so it
is my strong opinion from a business that I've always known because I've I've lived in Lawrence my my entire life. uh went to packet pharmacy for my entire life for all my pharmacy needs um to be a business. So I think it is in the best interest of the community to have this
remain as a business and reszoned as a as a commercial space to allow a new small business to occupy it. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else from the public that wishes to speak? >> At this time I going to close the public
hearing. Counselors, what's the motion? Motion to approve. >> There's a motion to approve properly. Second discussion discussion council la. >> Thank you Mr. Rossi.
>> I'm sorry Mr. Hayes. Sorry my my bad. Um one of the I want to make a comment then I have a question. So my comment is we part of the reasons why I believe we find ourselves in a bit of a pickle in
this city is because we don't follow our zoning. I think that many years ago we this city council adopted planned development through the city.
areas where we would have residences, areas where we would have businesses, areas where we have manufacturing, and then sometimes we would kind of have areas where we'd have maybe some business and some residences, mixed use.
Over time, what has happened is that the very decisions that this body has made way before our time has been fractured and diluted. Often times these things are happening
not necessarily here, but our friends at the ZBA and the planning board are also granting special uh waiverss uh and other allowances that continue to chip away
at the areas where we would had to have zoning zoning for either business, industrial or or manufacturing. So now here we are. Parker Street, Parker Street at one time, my district, Parker Street at one time residents.
Over time, as it was alluded to by both sides, there has been an infiltration, if you will, of some businesses. 61 years from Package Farm is what I heard this evening. So while I will tell you I am
open-minded on both sides, I have not made my decision yet on which way I'm going to be voting. And this is my district. I haven't figured that out yet. Um, part of me looks at this and says, I don't want to be a part of one more time being a part of spot zoning. I don't
want to be a part of something where uh where we loosen things up even and and we cause more chaos. Uh it it's it's I don't want to be a part of that. I've got a bit of a history on South Broadway when it came to this many years ago when I was first on the council for this
seat. But what's compelling to me on the other side, it's been 61 years. 61 years of this has been there. And we can't lie to ourselves. There have been businesses up and down there. I will say that the school is expanding and no
one's talked about the school, which is right across the street. There's a library and then there's a school. No one's talked about the school. I don't even know if the school through its pastor has opined or provided their recommendation because that would be a very strong they didn't want a big chunk
of what's going on um our our late council um school lady council school Lawrence thank you I knew there was an Lawrence Catholic Academy I'm getting confused with my St. Augustine's roots um so let me ask you this question m Mr. H
61 years something has been for a business there. It seems reasonable in some ways. >> So argue why council the plan um we're not against a business there. >> I'm asking him a question. He's answering it. >> There was a question. There was a
question. Yeah. >> Yes. >> Sorry, Council President. Uh I get to I get fast. Uh >> uh Council of Plan, we're not against the business here. And I have to be honest. If this was a pharmacy like office, uh some many of the businesses
that uh attorney Cohen rattled off earlier, I I would have a problem. So, it is a laundrymat is the problem and it's the traffic and the school. I'll mention the school now. When drop off and pick up, they do create a lot of parking issues on 130 Pocket Street. It
gets very congested there. Attorney Cohen and I I he said made me feel better for one thing that if he's going to separate the water meter that that makes me feel fine from another perspective, but my clients put a lot of money into parking out. They got a she
got a grant from the city to Lawrence to help that. And she paid $25,000 for a plan. It's not working. It's not working and we just don't need a laundrymat where it's going pro problem. I see the see the businessmen tonight. If they could police it and make sure it doesn't
happen, that would be a lot easier. But we don't know what happens down the road. So business we're not I and I hate to say it, it's the laundry mat business that we're we feel it's a more intense use than a typical business that we have on uh Pocket Street in that that area.
And we we're afraid of the parking issue and afraid of the infrastructure effect. And as I said, the way this process works, we can't get any input until it's already approved. And sometimes it's too
late. >> Another question. >> Thank you, Mr. Mr. Cohen. So, have you have you reached out to to LCA, Lawrence Catholic Academy? Have you reached out have they or reached out to you about this project and and how what impact if
any did they anything? >> Um they've not reached out to us and we did not reach out to them. We know it's a beautiful school being built. Um but I I drive by Parker Street all the time on my way to court. This morning I was on Parker Street there. There is plenty of
parking that's separate from the road. So, it's a double line, two-way street, and there's a solid line adjacent to the businesses that are all along Parker Street. So, we respect um the school. That's why we're we're seeking to do a
B1 zone that allows a convenience store, retail store, laundromat. Um I think a bank could go in there. So, B1 covers a lot of different businesses. We just happen to have a a great buyer that wants to make this area thrive in a in
what really is a business zone and was a pharmacy for over 61 years like you you mentioned. So other uses may not fit well in this area. And our neighbor Miss Ferman, her whole building is all
commercial in a residential zone. It's up to her what she wants to do with her own building, but we don't see that there's a parking problem there. >> Well, part of the and this is unfortunate >> on the on the business side. >> The library is not operational.
>> I mean, God willing, we will have a South Lawrence branch library that will bring people and potentially cars if people aren't walking there and it'll be busy again. And I that's a hope and dream of mine that we can get that back up and serve the people in that part of the city
>> and right now that's so that's that's an unknown. So you have more vehicles that are coming in. It may be sparse maybe sparse now but it won't be sparse if we get that going in and the school is full throttle and then we move anyway and we
have ADUs all over the place. um that we're we're we're trying to figure out what we're doing as a city with with respect to the accelerated accessory dwelling units as well as all the other things that are happening at the zoning and the planning boards that are allowing for more growth. So, a lot of stuff that's happening and so
does your understand and realize that we're about to vote in favor of more of an increase in water rates. >> Does he know that a substantial increase? >> I just I'm just curious. I mean, I just >> I'm not sure that that's >> totally relevant for this situation. We
have a a a gentleman who >> owns a lot of property in the city. He loves the city. He wants to operate business. >> Love the city. Sure. >> Loving the city is not a requirement, right? Um I hear that all the time and it drives me kind of crazy. We all love the city. We're all here. We all love the city. I hear that all the time for
we love the city. We love the city and we love when we make money in the city. That's what we love to do because we're developers. Um so that's not that's not the issue here. It just I just want to make sure your client understands that that as we go through this process uh bec things like his business are going to be more challenging, more costly. And
once we move things over to a uh to uh to a um to a B1, then I've got the zoning map right here, other things come into play. Uh once you open this once you open up the faucet a little bit more, then more other kinds of activities come in that are permitted or
things that need things that need uh per permitted by ZBA approvals or or or the the planning board approval. Um I'm still not sure where I'm going on this, Mr. Cohen. I'm still divided on it. So I'll I'll wait to listen if there any other questions and that may help me
out. Thank you. >> Thank you. I appreciate your time. >> Just to clarify, councel plan, is that district F or district E? >> So the actual parcel itself that's being discussed is an F. Across the street is district E. We're on the boundary. >> Okay, got it.
So one side is the district F and then the other side is on the the parcel in question the Packard pharmacy and the school and all that that's in my district school. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Council president. Give me a moment.
>> The LCA is not >> that's not in my district. >> Councelor uh de Rosario and then councelor Fante. >> Three. You're going to president. Sure. 61 years of service as as a pharmacy. Great. But times have changed and and to
me I believe I mean listening to councelor L plant but to me I believe that not approving this is putting this this this property and the property owner through I say through hell because I mean as you
see in the city all the medical facilities are going away all thearmacies are closing. So what are we going to get there eventually? So I believe that an entrepreneur coming in even if you love the city or not the plant and they come to make money. They
also coming to pay money to the city. Uh and and and we need to innovate again. They went out of business as a pharmacy and that building also in the back they have they have tried medical facilities in there counselors all kinds of stuff because I went I was there the other
day. they were opening a new some type of a mental health facility that I haven't seen a person walking up there again. So meaning that that business they just opened as a medical facility is going to go away soon. So also the owners have not begging us but are
telling us that this is the way they want to go. We want to sell this. We're not making anything. We already run out of business. Um do you think that you will attract the pharmacy unless they have an interest? them and they actually about if they have an interest and they have a mindset of what they're going to build there maybe that's the interest
but according to the attorney they they make a very low low low offer I mean but I believe that times are changed and we also need to innovate with the type of businesses there medical business pharmacy again went out of business the
medical business in the city uh even our big hospital is is is struggling so a medical facility or any type of medicine there I I think will fail for anybody that is there. That's just a comment that I have and and and again I'm in support of the change. Thank you.
>> Thank you councelor uh Infante. She she came in again to the zone some technical issues. Now councelor Infante you have the floor. >> Hi. Um thank you council president. I actually wasn't uh for my colleagues wasn't technical issues. I went into a coughing attack so I took care of that
for a second. I apologize uh to my colleagues, but I was listening >> um some parts of it and um >> I can you council president, if you don't mind, can you just quickly summarize what the project is? I heard council councelor Leant mention two
um distinct uh uh areas uh that are in my district, which is the the school, the Lawrence Catholic Academy, and also the South Library uh which is both in district E. But I I'm trying to connect I did miss some parts of the conversation. So I'm trying to connect
um what effect that has with the overall project. >> Okay. Anyway, >> so uh currently this property that is located on 128 Parker Street is located on at residential to zone. the applicants are looking uh to change
that uh specific uh parcel into B1 zone so they can be uh legal. Even though the pharmacy was there for 61 years, they were not uh operating on their lot and that allowed them to due to the fact that they were operating on a
residential um lot, not a business, but they were running a business for 61 years. So now they wanted to change it change it to B1 which allowed them to run multiple business uh and also laundromat is is is permitted within uh
the boundaries of B1 U zone. So they look they seeking for this body to approve uh actually after the zoning board the zoning board have run a public hearing and approving uh this island at
the zoning board level. They looking to have this uh this body the city council uh as per the law to approve this spot shown in change and uh this is the the what what the item is all about. Uh the project itself
is about a laundromat that is going to join uh it's going to actually be able to buy this lot or this business, not the lot, this business and be able to run a laundromat out of that facility >> that's going to that's the proposed new business.
>> Thank you, Council President. I did hear one of the attorneys um uh making a counterargument pertaining to parking and the school during pickup and drop off um times and I know
regardless of the area uh any school during that time is is an issue. Uh, what I do know dealing with parking, I mean, I'm sorry, pickup and uh, drop off situation, particularly with the Frost School on Hamlet Street. What I have
learned is dealing with those situations is that it's for a short amount of time. It seems longer when you're in it, but the overall time frame of that um, is relatively short. So, I don't believe in the long run that's going to be an issue. It might it might be an
inconvenience, an annoyance, but I don't think that's an actual um issue itself. Um I the I just going into my fifth year as a counselor, I have not had many issues in that area
with businesses, residents. Um when when I'm in that area, um there there has been minor situations, but it's more DPW related than anything else. So, I personally don't see an issue with changing this. Um, at least for the area
for the other side of that street that that affects District 8, I don't see an issue with it. Um, and if you know, if something could be figured out that that businesses can can align and and continue thriving, I I I don't I don't
see it as a bad thing. >> All right. Thank you, Councelor Infante. Now, we have Councelor Marmo. Um, for clarity purposes, I'm looking at the image on Google Maps.
>> Are we talking about this parcel in addition to the parking lot and then this uh I don't know if it's a three-story building that's just the front? >> Just the front. >> Just the front. >> Oh, okay. >> The pharmacy. >> Just the pharmacy. What about the parking lot?
>> The parking lot is >> parking. Yes. for four. >> Can we just get some clarities on uh the actual boundaries of that uh of the lot that we changing? >> Uh the parking lot is not part of it. >> Yeah.
>> So the parking lot is not part of it. They have parkings. Can we clarify on the uh on the amount of spot we got? >> We own four of the spot. The pharmacy actually owns four of those spots. >> So >> all right. So the the pharmacy owns four of those spots, but the change of the
zoning is only related to the parcel of the pharmacy itself. >> Okay. I'm going be honest. I'm not >> I'm not opposed to the reasonzoning because I'm familiar with this area and uh similar to uh the discussions
mentioned in favor of it, I do see that there are businesses that are thriving uh within Parker Street which leads to Winthrop and 114. I have a question though. I don't know if it should be targeted to the attorney
or to the buyers. Is there a study or um some sort of analysis that you guys uh kind of pay for or do in order to make a decision as to what is the
type of business that you want to um invest in? Like why why a laundry? How did you come to that determination as opposed to a youth facility, as opposed to a 7-Eleven? Like, I'm just, you know,
not that I'm saying that that's the type of business you should be doing. I'm just trying to understand how did you come about in making the decision that a laundry mat would make sense? >> Yeah, great question. Yeah, so I've been looking to open up a laundromat. Uh, and
I've been super patient. We've been uh going through this deal for what eight eight months I would say. Um so it's been quite some time. Uh I've looked at you know places in Lynn Low Lawrence and um I'm familiar with that area. I own a 9 unit in Salem Street right across the
way there. Um so I know that there's the demand for the laundromat. So I actually brought one of my mentors who owns seven laundry mats uh Neptune. Uh he's been able to help me out. He actually went and checked out the place. Uh he checked out the competitors. He checked out the
area. And uh I also had a vendor um a machine vendor come in do a case study uh based on population. Uh I know there's Happy Laundry down the road two blocks down. There's the Union Street Laundry. There's another one uh about a
block or two away, but they're like two three blocks away. So around that surrounding area, there's a need for it based on the demographic and how many multif family uh buildings are there. Uh so I always wanted to open up a laundry mat since I was 10 years old. So you know I've been an entrepreneur for 10
years. I'm a director for sales for a huge company and my wife wants to you know start her journey. So this is me supporting her. Um and we've been looking all over the place. Lynn uh Lel Lawrence and uh this area in particular, this building in particular, um just
fits the model, right? Uh the way it's set up, uh you know, it's a long building. Uh there's the four parking spots, but if you look at the front of the of the of the building there, there's a huge strip where you're going to be able to, you know, uh find easy parking for um for the customers. So, to
answer your question, I did do a case study. Um, I wouldn't cuz at the end of the day, uh, all in I'm going to be investing around $1.5 million into the the laundry. We're not restructuring anything, but as far as like the machines, uh, we want to make it look extremely nice. I don't know if you guys
provided a photo of the uh, outside on what we want to make it. We want to make it a modern laundry mat. And, um, so we did the case study. We wouldn't be investing so much capital if we didn't do the case study on the area. Uh, and um, it's not just like me kind of running it, but it's somebody that's in
the business, somebody that runs has been doing. Uh, Neptune Laundries, if you look it up, they're all over East Boston, Lynn, River. Uh, and I would say they're probably one of the, if not the the most successful laundry mat business in in Massachusetts. And I've been blessed to be able to me be mentored by
uh by um by by the owner of that of that business. So, not only his advice, but the vendor, he ran a case study and they determined that it's a it's a it's a a great place for it and there's demand even though there's competition uh in but if you look at South Lawrence,
there's not a lot of competition uh compared to North Lawrence. So, you'll find three laundry mats that are in South Lawrence and that area is underserviced. I I appreciate you mentioning the case study because um I think it's important
and again I'm not I'm speaking for myself. I'm just one vote. My my um I hesitated not necessarily because of the reasonzoning. Um like I'm in favor of that considering what the makeup of the
current um district looks like in that area, but I also love to hear from my colleagues who represent that district, what their opinion is and what uh are the potential impacts to to that area considering that this is the district that they represent and they know it
best as opposed to me. Um, but I also want to like have this serve as a message to my colleagues that um, I think it's important for us to continuously do our due diligence to also ask these important questions in terms of the type of businesses that are
coming in. And I appreciate the fact that you want to invest in Lawrence. I think it's amazing and I love that. But I think we need to be responsible also and making sure that we are saying yes to the type of businesses that best serves our our community. Um
so again, I'm not I don't have an issue with the reasonzoning. I I don't know how I feel about the parking. I drive constantly up and down that area. I think a lot of us do. We're constantly traveling. uh considering it's a gateway to the highway, the
registry of motor vehicles. So I I we all frequently travel to that part of Lawrence. Um so you know I'm a little concerned with the fact that the pharmacy is more of like you're in and out. You're le you're there for less than 15 20 minutes versus a laundry
you're kind of there for a longer period of time. So, I'm just kind of concerned that four parking spaces isn't merely enough for the demand of what you're going to attract and the the customer base that you're going to receive.
>> Yeah, that's a valid concern. I I do want to notate that when we did the case study, uh you'll realize that the laundry most of the volume so they the way they measure is based on capacity. Um we're going to add 22 u uh washers. So, it's not a huge space, right? It's
in in the case studies based on capacity. And we also have to consider that most of the volume on a laundry mat is weekends, right? So it's not going to be at 8:00 on a Monday. It's not going to be at 3:00 on a Tuesday. The majority of the volume and the makeup of a
laundromat business, it's always made up. I mean, the busiest days are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So when you look at that area, um there's no school on Sunday, there's no school on Saturday. So when you look at the the the data on how a laundromat operates, most of the
volume you're actually counting on how busy you are on Saturdays, Friday, Saturday, and and Sunday, but mostly Saturday and Sunday. So cuz I actually, you know, talked to to Nick, he's the owner of Neptune, and I have big dreams, big aspirations, and uh I'm almost
delusional with, you know, the things I want to accomplish. And I was kind of pushing the limit on like, hey, can I accomplish this? Can I accomplish that? He's like as much as you as you want to accomplish that, you're o you're when you open up a laundromat, you're working for the weekend, right? You're going to have, you know, uh some some demand
during the week, but most most of it's going to come during the weekend. Um so um you know to answer your question you should expect most of the volume or the the traffic uh during Friday specifically Saturday and Sunday where
if you look at even the neighbors um the offices I don't know what what businesses are there but I'm sure they operate 9 to5 Monday through Friday. Uh so you'll you'll notice that most of the volume is during the time that there's no school and the rest of the neighboring businesses are not going to
be operational. >> Thank you. >> Counselors, any other questions? Uh we going to the second round. Council L. >> Thank you. So this is very helpful and my colleagues your your comments and
questions I think are helping me get to a better point. So, I appreciate listening to your your your viewpoints. Um, it's drifted me to to a different direction now regarding water and water capacity. Um, I harped on this a little bit more. It was an irrelevant question,
but I think there is some relevance to associated with it, but do we has there been any studies that show that we've got the water capacity going through there? From what I'm led to believe, a laundromat is uses a lot of water and the last thing I want to do is to have
pressurized problems with the people that I represent in the neighborhoods right behind South Union Street. So the question is is do you have any information regarding the impact of water once this is operational to the pe to the residents that are in the area?
Anybody who's got the answer? >> Thank you for that question, Attorney Cohen. Again, I personally don't have information about water capacity for that area, but I think if in the in the main Parker Street area, if if Hafner's
car wash and gas station is not complaining about the use or availability of the volume of water, I don't see how this laundromat would have an issue either. The the main would come right off of Parker Street, water and
sewer. So, if we're here to discuss the change of the zone to a a B1 for a property that was a pharmacy, um I don't believe Miss Farman has a a water capacity issue in her building,
but if you approve to a B1, then our buyer has to go through a number of steps to get approval for what they're doing. So he already represented that he he'll do about 22 washing machines. It's unlikely you'll get 22 washing
machines running at the same time for a 30 or 40 minute cycle. maybe on the weekends on a Saturday and Sunday like he represented, but I think it's something that we can look towards as the next step once the zone to B1 is
approved because he still has to submit plans for approval, go through the building department, go through water, sewer, and get all his approvals. I appreciate that. I I So it it's so I hear that you're backing off. This is not about the usage. is about B1. It's
all about putting a B1 there, but earlier you wanted to make sure we met the owners and we wanted to talk about the business and that we and then and then the the person on the other side was talking about water and I think you know Mr. Hayes and on his counterargument makes I think some good arguments with respect to the water. I
just think that we should the last thing I want to do as a city council when this comes before me and all of a sudden it's a Saturday morning and someone can't get their laundry done at the house on whatever street's behind there, you know, and then did you vote for that
thing? Yeah, I did. What were you thinking? There's a there's a laundromat. Of course, it's going to be using a lot of water. I mean, why would you do such a thing? Did you did you get any kind of uh did you get any data that showed that you were a that that we had the capacity? Well, they said that Happeners was able to get water. Well,
that's fantastic that Happeners got it, but that was but this put it over Hers was fine. Now you got one more heavy use. Now that that we weren't able to have capacity, all this gets to the point. I'm leaning more to be honest with you in favor of what we're trying to accomplish for reasons that we talked
about before. If we put this into if we move if we move this to a to um to a B1 the chances of there be more housing there is going to be diminished I think so that to me if anybody knows me knows that that's a
huge plus right but I also have to balance that with impacts to my the residents that are living there today and are going to be living there tomorrow and when this business end I don't know if this is acceptable council president I think before I cast my vote a meaningful and informed formed vote. I
would like to know the answer to that question which is not here today. I would like to hear from the water department about water capacity in that area. If we move it to zoning for a purpose such as this, can it handle it? If the answer is yes, I'm more inclined
to go in one direction. If the answer is no, I'm more inclined to go in a different direction. That's where I stand right now to make an informed decision. So, I would love to be able to table this tonight, make a request to the water department to have a conversation because they know
they know the this the council president asked for data on on these different things. Uh, and as we are starting to debate the next meeting on the water flow and the cost and all that, which is why I brought this up. This is very pertinent. I he knows and I I I think that we
should get that information. I would feel more comfortable as a district council who represents that area who's going to be getting the phone calls from residents saying what do you why did you do what you did? >> I think we could wait two weeks. That's my point. >> Uh councel plan. >> Yeah.
>> The people that are going to just just to clarify based on the water uses that you mentioned two things that they mentioned and it's it's it's a fair to bring it up. They're going to do a new connection and that connection will go to the main.
And another question that uh might arise to that question, people that are going to be using that laundry mat are currently washing their clothing and the places that they are. So they using that water
and they are not from 3 miles away. They are from the same area. eventually potentially they just go back to that laundry mat that is going to be closest to their home but it's going to be within the area I just said on the on the water uses
I mean if we keep on looking that way we're going to find plenty of uh way to say yes or plenty of things that we can say no in the meantime the discussion need to uh get to a point that we can actually um agree upon something or
disagree upon something. So I entertain a motion for sure. It will be an order if you put a motion to table and if it's second >> I I'll make >> I have one more question. >> Sure. Uh councelor Infante. >> Thank you council president. And this is actually um to my atlarge colleagues. Um
as you know the other side we have some housing buildings um off of Firham Street um also Blackford Street. What I'm unfamiliar with within those units is if they have laundry capacity inside
or not. Like I've I've been I've been in the buildings but not necessarily as too long to notice something like this within those apartment units. So I'm wondering if any of my atlarge colleagues um know this or or not.
Well, uh I personally don't know because that's that's a specific question, but the what I know is that people are washing their clothing in a daily basis.
Uh and and they and they doing it for a need, not because they want it. And and essentially water uses on this case is based on need. and laundry mats are there for a reason and for a need of the
community. Uh but as as I don't want to deviate from the actual uh question that we have in front of us which is no >> reasonzoning from uh R2 to B1. So, >> right, I I asked that council president
because um hearing the council marl's question to the owner pertaining to um any studies and and he mentioned the need within the area and the housing and the multifamily. So, that just made me think of those housing units there and I
was just wondering whether you or council Reyes knew had any any information on on that particular need. council >> uh to you councelor president some building have uh laundry inside the
the building so I think uh but I living there from this area I think we don't have any conflict to have the kind of business around because I think it's a need for from our area uh when I try to
to looking for the laundry is a little bit far from my house so I I think in uh around my area I think it's a a really good opportunity to development new business in this area for our community.
uh I know what is the concern to my colleague from DCF but at the same time I think uh it's a great opportunity to our resident in this area and respond to uh consular infante uh we have a lot of
building in this area some of don't have uh laundry mat inside they have the machine but I think we continue needed some project like that >> cel plan If you decide to put make a motion to table it is in order as far as
a second. So >> you have a questions councelor Levy >> through you councelor president. So right now we are discussing just to change the stoning. Yes, >> you're wrong for the R2 to be big be one. That's is the discussion tonight.
But what happen? Right now we are getting through that they want to build a a laundry mat. But what happen if we change the song and then they decided that they don't want a laundromat, they wanted something different. What is going to happen? >> Right now we have a business operating
there for 61 years. >> Yes. I I knew the pharmacy. Yes. >> Yeah. Let me let me let me respond to you. If another business come up, it will be in compliance with the actual 61 years of business that they have have
there. Right now they they shouldn't they should be they should be housing there right now. >> Yeah, >> they should be in R2 which allow a residential to do to to a duplex and essentially down the road an ADU. So
three. So if we leave leave it like this, it will be a a duplex eventually. That's for sure what what the only thing that is going to happen on that lot because that's the reality. So right now it's residential too. They're looking to change it in
compliance with 61 years of business to be one. That's that's the what they have. No, I I understand that what I said, but they can come out later and say, well, uh, we decided that we don't like it, you know, the idea of having a
laundry mat, but they need to look for another kind of business. >> All right. >> So, at that point, I think that um it will be an order to be uh to have a business that isn't correspondent with zoning be one if we decide to change it.
And that's uh that's being explained as of uh what type of business they're not looking for B2 or B3 or B or B or yeah >> B1 businesses which is regularly the smaller businesses
that's uh that's what it that's the the information that was presented to us. So councelor plan if you decide to it it will be an order if we get second. No, I certainly get that. Make a motion to table uh for the next meeting so we can get information from the water department. I don't want to delay it forever. Motion.
>> All right. Uh there is a motion to table. Can't hear a second. Motion fails due to lack of second. >> Second. >> I'll properly second. >> Uh there is a motion on the table and it's been properly second by councelor
Mamo. Madame clerk, please call the role. This is on a motion to table. Council Gonzalez, I'll start with you. >> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Councilman Maro, >> yes.
>> Council Infante, >> no. Council Reyes, >> no. >> Council Domario, >> no. >> Council La Plant, >> yes. >> Council Vice President, >> no. >> Councilor Infant,
>> I'm so sorry. >> Yeah, you're already voting. >> Thank you. Council President Rodriguez. >> No. What's the count? >> It fails. Um, I got one, two, three in favor of the tableabling. I have one, two, three, four, five against and one
absent. >> All right. Madame Cler, please call the role to change from R2 to B1. >> I like to speak one more time, please. >> H like to speak one more time. Make a comment if I don't mind. I like to make a comment. May I have the floor, please? >> Council plan. We're going to three
rounds of questionings and comments. >> This will take less than 60 seconds. You can put the clock on it. >> Council plan. Thank you to those councils through you, those counselors who uh supported the motion to table. We often talk about what is a district counselor who knows the area well. We often say we're going to lean toward
that district counselor. >> Yeah, but we have three. >> I have the floor council president. >> No, you have three council at large also have a >> I said less than a minute and now you decided to speak cuz you could >> Yeah, because you're trying to convince otherwise. You're not following the rules.
>> Council President, if you don't like it, you get the floor last. You get to say whatever you want, but at least let me finish. >> No, because you you are deviating from the item. That's not in order. You thanking the the counselors. You thanking the counselors. That's that's out of order. >> You don't let me finish, council president. I'm
>> Well, you should be in order before I let you finish, >> council president. >> Yes. You going to be in order to the item? >> Are you not going to give an opinion all the time when you're not supposed to, Council President, which you did earlier that I called you on? >> Mhm. >> That's the point, Council President. A lot of respect goes two ways, sir. two
ways. My point is this. Thank you number one. Number two, if I'm forced to make the vote on this, I'm going to ask my colleagues to vote yes in favor. I wanted to I wanted to go to um remain as an R as an R1. Um no, as a I wanted to
go to a B stay as a B1, not as an R for the reasons I mentioned earlier. That's it seems like the best course of action, I think. But I also wanted to make sure that I make the point known that that there other folks I I've listened to what members have said in the past
regarding their votes. Duly noted. Thank you. Thank you councel plants. Duly notice that three counselors at large also represent that area and they are here present today. It is not just about the counselor representing that district. It is about the counselors and
the council not one specific person. We also get complaint as a counselor at large. I also get complaints from multiple areas around the city or the entire city just like councelor Reyes and counselor
counselor Levy. So every time we mention that we leaning towards the council or district counselor, it is it is it is not well represented of the community. Madame Clair, please call the role for
the that uh for the vote. >> To remind the council, I have um >> to make it >> council del Rosario made the motion. It was seconded by councelor Reyes and that was to approve the change. >> That's the underlying motion. >> Yep. Council plan, I'm going to start with you. >> Great. Super. >> Thank you. uh to move it to a B1. Uh the
answer is yes. >> Council del Rosario. >> Yes. >> Councelor Reyes. >> Yes. >> Council Infante. >> Yes. >> Council Mamo. >> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Councel Gonzalez.
>> Yes. >> Council Vice President. >> Yes. >> Council President, >> yes. Motion carries. Madame Chair, um Madame uh clerk, please go to item uh 1825, top of the agenda. Um document number 18-25 relates to
handicap parking and the public notice for all the the handicap. >> Motion to pass 10. There's >> a motion to pass 10 properly second discussion. There is no discussion. All those in favor, please say I. Madame Clair, please call the role. Call the role, Madame Clerk. Um,
>> so on a motion to go past 10 o'clock. Um, >> I'm sorry. Council Gonzalez, >> thank you so much. >> Go past 10. >> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Mamo, >> yes. >> Councelor Infante, >> yes.
>> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Lant, >> no. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. Council President Rodriguez. >> Yes. Man, please uh go on uh to public hearing item 1825.
>> Yep. I'm sorry. I just um the public hearings. Um yeah, but there's there's lumps. I don't know what the right word is. Um, document number 18-25, document number 45, 59-25, document number 13-25, 26,
document 35-26, document 36-26, document 58-26, document 387-25, document 334-26, document 57-26, document 71-26, 72-1026,
and 106-26 were all advertised together. The public notice read, "Notice is hereby given that the Lawrence City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 21st, at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 200 Common Street, Lawrence, Mass, pursuant 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 considerations that prevent them from participating in person. To receive access codes for remote participation, please contact the city
clerk at eileen.branell@c city of lawrence.com or 978-620-3230 or view the meeting on Facebook in YouTube. The purpose of this hearing is to gather testimony, information, and public input concerning the proposed amendment to the revised ordinances of
the city of Lawrence to be further amended by adding the following sub paragraphs to section 10.36.340 of the municipal code. Handicap parking in the proper alphabetical order. Document 18-25 Jackson Street, west side from a 50 ft north of Irving Avenue to
70 ft north of Irving Avenue. Document number 459-25 Haveril Street southside from a 71 ft northeast of Margin Street to 91 ft northeast of Margin Street. Document number 13-26 Utah Street West Side from
a 293 ft north of Fifth Street to a point 313 ft north of Fifth Street. Document number 35-26 Juniper Street East Side from a 255 ft north of Alder Street to 275 ft north of Alder Street.
Document number 36-26 Kendrick Street Southside from 200 ft west of Belmont Street to 220 ft west of Belmont Street. and document number 58-26 AM Street West Side from a 64 ft south of Ohio Avenue
to 84 ft south of Ohio Avenue and further amended by deleting the following sub paragraphs to section 10.36.340 of the municipal code handicap parking document number 387-25 Durant street north side from a point
102 ft westerly of the intersection with Belmont Street to 22 ft westerly of the intersection of Belmont Street. Document number 34-26 Courier Street north side from a point 114 ft Westerly of the intersection of Wilmont Street to 134 ft
westerly of the intersection of Wilmont Street. Document number 57-26 Juniper Street west side from a 272 ft southerntherly of Basswood Street to 292 feet southerntherly of Basswood Street. The Persons
wishing to be heard shall be afforded the opportunity. >> Uh public hearing is now open. Uh anybody from the public that wishes to speak? >> Public hearing is now closed. Uh councilors, we need we need a couple of
motions uh to uh either take this as a block or uh take these items individually. We have uh five six different items which are uh for the uh the handicap parking um for handicap
parkings and three of them are to remove handicap parking. Mr. >> President, >> councelor de Rosario >> through you if if I can take out order 45925 and I'll explain why um and and make a motion to withdraw. >> Okay. Let's take it individually.
>> Yeah. if if it's if it's in order 45925 uh which is 464 H Street. Uh I actually I'm in contact with with the um constituents and they actually moved and they will they they are going to put another request with the new address. So if we can I would like to make a motion
to withdraw document 45925. >> All right. There is a motion to withdraw item 45925. Second of discussion. U I hear none. Alan Clair, please call the role. Sorry. Um,
>> do you mind if I um council Gonzalez? >> Yes. >> Councelor Miguel is noted as absent. Council Mamo, >> yes. >> Councelor Infante, >> yes. >> Councelor Reyes,
>> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council La Plant, >> yes. Council Vice President is noted as absent. Council Rodriguez. >> Yes. >> Merries. Um item 1825. >> Council President,
>> I can follow your suggestion. I like to follow your suggestion and take it as a block. The other ones since there's no objection to that. >> All right. Item 1825, uh 1326, 3526, 36 26 and 58 26. Uh we will take it as a block.
>> Second. Um and the uh motion will be uh taken as a bl block and to approve. Is that correct? Do you make do can you uh can you accept that as a friendly amendment? >> I believe uh councelor de Rosario is the
one who made the motion. So >> So you're making the motion to take it as a block and >> approve it as a block. >> All right. No problem. Uh there is been properly second discussion. We have a great shot >> today. >> What?
>> Council plan, you've been great today. >> Yes. >> Councelor uh councilors, we have a motion in front of us properly. Second discussion. I hear none. Madame Clair, please call the role. Um,
>> Council Land, >> yes. >> Council Deario, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Infonte, >> yes. >> Councelor Marmal, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Levy is noted as absent. Council
President, >> yes. Motion carries. Uh, document uh 38725, 3426, and 5726. Okay. Okay. I got a motion to take it as a block and uh and a motion to remove. >> Motion to take it as a block. A motion
to remove. >> Second. >> There's a motion uh both uh motion containing to the specific things properly. Second. Discussion. I hear none. Uh Madame Clair, please call the role. >> Um councelor Gonzalez.
>> Yes. >> Councelor Mikuel is noted as absent. Council Mama, >> yes. >> Councelor Infonte, >> yes. Councelor um Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Councelor Llant, >> yes. >> Councelor Vice President is noted as
absent. Council President, >> yes. Motion carries. Madame Clair, please read the notice for item uh for uh 490 25 and any other item that is together with that one. >> I'm sorry. I just the roll call votes
are killing me with the um Sorry. >> Can you just give me the document number on the first one? >> 49 4 uh 493 >> 493. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Install underground.
>> Document number 493, document number 3726, document number 11026, 11126, and 1126 are all related to national grid and published in one public notice. says, "Notice is hereby given that the Lawrence City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at
7 p.m. in the council chambers, 200 Common Street, Lawrence Mass, pursuant to chapter 2, 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 considerations that prevent them from participating in
person. To receive access codes for remote participation, please contact the city clerk at eene.bol bernal@ city of llorence.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 petition presented by the Massachusetts Electric Company doing business as National Grid requesting the city of Lawrence, Mass by and through its city council members um for permission to locate poles, wires, fixtures, and/or underground conduits,
including any necessary and sustaining and protective fixtures along and across the following public ways. Document number 493-25, install underground utility conduits on Essex Street near Amesbury Street. Reference number is 31170461.
Document number 37-26, install and maintain underground conduits on Amesbury Street and Canal Street. Reference number 31170451. Document number 110-26, install one jail pole on McFarland Court near Water Street. Poll number 1105-50
between polls 1105 and 1106 reference number 31240071 document number 11126 install one J pole on Maple Street near Courier Street and relocate pole 3460 reference number
31083480 and document number 112-26 relocate one jail pole on Maple Street near Short Street and relocate pole 3455, reference number 31083480. Copies of the relevant plans for the above reference petitions are on file
with the office of the city clerk and may be viewed upon request. Persons wishing to be heard shall be afforded the opportunity. >> Public hearing is now open. Anybody from the public that wishes to speak? >> I hear no public hearing is now closed. Counselors
>> motion to approve. I'm sorry. >> There's a motion to approve item uh 49325, sorry, 03726, 110 26, 11126, and 1126 as a block. Um motion to have been approved properly.
Second discussion I hear none. All those mallet, please call the roll. Um, >> your mic. >> Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Mama, >> yes.
>> Council Infante, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Lant, >> yes. >> Council Levy is noted as absent. Councelor Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. Uh, madame clerk, the next notice will
be uh 9026. Doctor number 90-26 is a proposed modification to ordinance number 0204, excuse me, 02.0 04.081. Um, public notice reads, "Notice is hereby given that the Lawrence City
Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026, 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 200 Common Street, Lawrence, Mass. Pursuant to chapter 2, 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 considerations that prevent them from participating in person. To receive access codes for remote participation, please contact the city clerk at eileen.beral@ 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 amendment to revised ordinances of the city of Lawrence to be further amended by deleting the current version of ordinance 02.04.081
081 of the municipal code temporary appointments and replacing it with the following temporary appointments sub A. No person appointed by the mayor to fill a vacant city office or temporary on a temporary basis pursuant to section 4.4
of the city charter shall serve in the acting capacity for more than 90 days. The 90-day period may be extended by vote of the city council for up to an additional 90 days with or without the request of the mayor. All vacant positions filled on a
temporary basis pursuant to the city charter shall be posted and advertised within 90 days of the first temporary appointment unless such time is extended by vote of the city council with or without the request of the mayor. Subc absent a vote to the extent a temporary
appointment as described in sub paraph above. Any such temporary appointment pursuant to section 4.4 of the city charter shall expire at midnight on the 90th day. Any such person temporarily appointed shall revert to the employment status and pay rate the person held immediately prior to the temporary
employment. If the approp if the appointee was not an employee prior to the temporary appointment, then that person shall revert to a non-employee status. The city council may at its sole discretion allow the appointee to continue in the position until a
suitable individual is hired. Subd following the temporary appointment pursuant to section 4.4 for of the city charter. With no further action, temporary appointment or final appointment by the mayor, the city council shall authorize the personnel director to post and advertise the
position received. Post and advertise a position, receive applications, certify applicants, and submit to the council for selection and appointment, the five highest certified applicants. The city council shall select and employ an individual from that pool of applicants
within 30 days. Persons wishing to be heard shall be afforded the opportunity. >> Public hearing is now open. Anybody from the public that wishes to speak? >> Public hearing is now closed. What's the motion? >> Motion to approve. There's a motion to
approve. Properly second. Discussion. >> Discussion. Council Lan. Um, one is a ministerial matter. I would just like to ask the clerk that in the future on something like this of uh just give it a maybe a two or three word so the public when they look at it or a counselor for
shortand can look at it. Um, this one proposed modification ordinance 2.4081 then putting on this piece of paper temporary >> appointment >> temporary appointment something like that that would be helpful. Uh so I um I would like to hear from the author of
this as to and I think I know why but I think it's important for me to hear why uh why I should be voting yes for this council. >> Sure. Thank you through you council president. I well first I want to say thank you to madame clerk for reading
the entire um ordinance as we still have some mending p um pending matters pertaining to this ordinance. But, uh, what you have before you, um, council, as I explained in the ordinance committee, it's just, uh, language correction. Two years ago, the city
council voted to eliminate the word provisional and the and the def definition of provisional from um from our municipal code. And um, the ordinance still reflected that term. So
I just made edits, proposed edits to eliminate that term to follow what we have done in the past, what we approved in the past. So you will only see the words acting, not acting
um or and provisional how it used to be stated in um in the past. >> Thank you for the explanation. Councelor Infante, councelor Lan, you have any other questions? >> I do. So, I think this is fantastic. I I supported this during the Rivera administration. I actually worked with
Mayor Rivera to after he got u elected the second time to put something on there because what was going on during the previous that previous administration, the Riveras was that things were going out of whack. People were serving for over a year in a temporary capacity or provisional
capacity or whatever whatever the fancy wording was and and that was just making a mockery of it. So, um, I made that attempt. It passed. Councelor Infante, my my colleague from District D, uh, perfected it more two years ago and is doing it one more time. I'm in favor. I
think it's I think it's fantastic. Here, here's the fly in the ointment. And I think all of us know this. So, let me say something that we all know. We can craft as many of these ordinances that we want, but if an administration, regardless of who it is, decides they're not going to
do it, what is what is the u call of action should they flaunt? And I'm not talking about this administration. I'm talking about any general administration to to this ordinance. I I just don't know what there what tool we have to be able to
ensure that administrations any Mel administration goes ahead and has something there for the amount of time that's written in this thing because that's what's happened in the past may try to find loopholes to get around it. So that's my question. Has there been any consideration
to to what would happen if they've violated it the ordinance? Well, >> I guess I was going to ask councelor if they if they violate the law council to give a moment. If they violate the law,
the public will notice that they they they they not respecting the the what they supposed to based on the o they took when they were elected. Also, if the law uh a a court might take action on that
and the AG's office definitely will would can take a look at that situation. Council, if >> I may add, council president. >> Sure. Council, >> the counselors that served um that also I think it was a unanimous vote but that
approved the changes. So we did experience a loophole as you may remember Coun Council Llant where um a position was put for and a temporary position was made um for a year and um it came to all of us as a surprise
prompting the change to to the to the definitions um within the municipal code and and the change to eliminate provisional throughout um our ordinances. As of right now, I do have something at the ordinance committee
level pertaining to your question. I was asked a few um that was some concerns were brought up to me by the ordinance committee in terms of the language um of my resolution and that has been fixed.
Um I could not go before the ordinance committee last week, but I do plan on being there uh next week to address the concerns. um well, not to address to to submit the revised language that um
should satisfy every question and concern that was brought up to me and I also have that outlined for the committee in case in case any questioning and concerns were were forgotten and how exactly those were fixed within the language. >> Thank you. One thing I would just suggest and I don't have
>> I don't have an answer but you have the floor. I don't have an answer, but um I think that if we look at the ordinance, I'm going to refer to a different ordinance. The ordinance deals with the surveillance
camera surveillance. There are provisions in that ordinance that talks about penalties and the penalties deal with the reduction of funding for surveillance equipment in the budget. So, there's something um I don't that we're going to find out
if that works. I put it on the agenda to uh to be sent to a committee. Who knows which committee you're going to send it to? But whatever it gets sent to, I'm curious to see what the committee decides to do and then and then uh with respect to that and then if we decide that's the way to go, we're going to
enforce that we're going to cut if we don't get the impact studies in this hypothetical with the cameras. I'm cured maybe we apply something like this in an ordinance such as this. So if a for example if if a position goes longer than the prescribed amount of time then
we say in the upcoming budget that position gets cut and then make that a part of this thing just like we did with the camera surveillance provision. So it's something to consider. I don't have an answer not for I don't think I don't want to put this on tonight. I do want to see what happens first. Let's have a
trial run. Let's see what happens with the surveillance cameras. Maybe we don't need to go there. maybe department has come and they give us the stuff and we're going to be okay. We'll get the information and they'll be fine. It's good. Uh but if they don't, that's our test study. Thank you, >> Council President. Council Fant,
>> if I may add, um I I think what the points that council plan is making um are good ones. I I don't think it would hurt to strengthen um this ordinance or any of our ordinance in in that matter. Um, I at the time did not think of these
questions that are coming up now because the way at least that I interpreted the the language of this ordinance is that the last uh section of the ordinance, section D, to me that's the consequence. Um, if if there isn't a confirmation by
the 91st day, then then it's the council's responsibility to hire. Um but the given the certain circumstances that we have seen perhaps there is a need to further fine-tune or streamline our processes when it comes to acting uh in
temporary roles within the city. So in uh in another word just like we do hire uh the clerk and the city attorney that position will fall into the
council's into the council priority uh when it comes to hiring and that's on the ordinance. So if the administration doesn't follow through on the 9th one date uh automatically fall into the council
for hiring and the council will train five the five most qualified candidates based on the ordinance uh and within 30 days u the council need to make a determination. Obviously during that how I seeing this is that
during that time uh we the intents of the council since we are n individuals elected by six different district and three at large is to work with administration when it
comes to uh bringing the best person to hire to be hired to any of those positions. So that's the intent of the council definitely entertain um entertain uh those qualified
candidates to be interviewed and to sequentially uh recommended to be high council. So in the language that I adopted or I I sponsored back in 2016 now I forget the
exact year. Um that's the language I put in there. I because I thought that was going to do. What mayor would want to give the authority to the city council to hire a department head? I thought that was going to stop because no mayor, whoever it was, would not want to have
the legislative body take the power, some authority that's that is inherent in them. So, I thought that was going to be enough. But I I will tell you now as I'm looking back on it for the last 10 years or so, it's it didn't work. And I'm okay to say
that. We tried it and it didn't work. I am willing to find another option. Um I don't think tonight's the night to talk about that other option. The hour is late. We need to put more thought into it. But I'm open to going ahead and putting some sort of substantial.
We have the budget. Let's you that's our biggest tool bar none. The budget. I think we all know that from last year's budget debate. We use that tool smartly, craft it surgically. We say, "Listen,
this is one position. If you don't fill it, we're going to lose it until you fill it with a permanent and then we fill it." Something like that. That's just an idea that I have and I'm willing to work with my account, my colleague from District D, who's who I'll be very frank, she has taken the bull by the horns on this. She has taken the lead
and I I'm impressed with her and I'm impressed with her abilities on this matter. Thank you. >> Councelor, at this point, I'll call the questions. All those uh madame cler please call the role. >> Councelor Gonzalez yes. Councelor Miguel is noted as absent. Councelor Marmal >> yes.
>> Councelor Infante. >> Yes. >> Councelor Reyes. >> Yes. >> Council Del Rosario. >> Yes. >> Council Blanch. >> Council Levy is known who is absent. Council president. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. So Mala there is any
other public hearing. I think that's okay. Um uh public uh matters pending public hearing. We have a few communication from the city of Cheney, from the mayor or any uh city officials. There is none. Uh committee report. We just we finished
today with the budget and finance committee. Housing committee that is no report. Ordinance committee. We're done. Uh personal committee we finish. Uh public safety and and emergency management committee that is not report. Committee of the hall that is not report. All business item 42525
removal of Indica parking 18 Fton Street um no ordinance was filed >> item uh 42525 >> both of these items document 42525 is the removal of handicap pocket at 18 street there is no ordinance on file so
instead of paying for a public hearing when there's nothing to delete I just hoping the council would um take a motion to withdraw There is a there is a signs located on those those places right now. >> There is signs. Yeah. >> All right. We need to send correspondence to DPW recommending them
to remove those to do due to it uh no ordinance on file. Can I get a motion to send correspondence uh to the DPW to remove those two signs? >> So move. >> There is a there is a motion on the table properly. Second discussion. I
hear none. All those in Madame Clair, please call the role. this roll call. Um, council plan, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Infante, >> yes. >> Council Marmmo, >> yes. >> Councelor Miguel is noted as absent.
Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Levy is noted as absent. Council President, >> yes. Motion carries. Can I get a motion to withdraw these two items? Item 425 uh 25 and item 10526. There is a motion to withdraw properly second. Discussion.
I hear none. Amalan clair please call the role. >> Councelor Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Maro. >> Yes. >> Council Infante. >> Yes. >> Councelor Reyes. >> Yes. >> Council Del Rosario. >> Yes. >> Council La Plant.
>> Yes. >> Council vice president is noted as absent. Council president. >> Yes. Motion carries. >> Um any matters that we would like to discuss? any public any >> any table matters that we would like to discuss?
>> No. >> Now let's go to uh new business item 5596 transfer of fund for the amount of 457,000 from free cash to the fire department overtime account. This is going to the ban finance committee. Item 15626
authorization to spend $10,000. Must save route to uh safe route to school. Uh SRTs signed and uh and lines project that's going to the uh or budget and finance committee. Item 15726 uh yearto
date budget review department of public work that's going to the budget and finance committee. Item 15826 approval of extension on the creating of uh drive lens a funding award to San Panam. That's going to the budget and finance committee. Item 15626
appropriation transfer for the amount of 25,000s of ARPA free cash allocation uh from the APER to the office of the planning and development that's going to the ordinance to the budget and finance committee. Item 160 26 authorization to accept donation of a 15
passenger vent uh uh runes Marramac Valley Transit Authority MEA. Um that's going to the ordinance committee. >> Usually there was a budget finance because it's like a grant. >> Okay. That's going to the uh let's send
it up to the or uh to the uh budget and finance committee. Item 16126, five-star express transportation LLC, renewal of uh taxi liberty license. Uh that's going to that ordinance committee item 162 uh
26 resolution uh direct directing a review of chapter uh 9.25 25 of the municipal cost of civilian technology and redefining uh the city council's oversight roles in
ensuring compliance with the ordinance that's going to the is resolution uh that's going to the ordinance committee item 16326 >> ordinance committee
item 16326 uh United Healthcare Community Plan and uh community plan resource fair companion common Thursday uh July July or June >> um >> June
>> I'm going to look that up to you right now you do the next one. How's that sound? >> All right, let's do the next one. Items 16426. no parking area on Pear Street uh west side beginning of Riverside Drive and heading towards the Northly uh direction. Uh that's going to the
ordinance committee. Item 16526 15 minute parking on 67 Jackson Street. That's going to the ordinance committee. Item 166 26 Handicap Parking 49 Kent Street. Ordinance committee. Item 167 26
Handicap Parking 195 West Street. Uh that's going to ordinance committee. Item 168 June uh 168 uh 26 resident parking Walner Street between Mar Street and Iring Street. That's going to ordinance committee. Item 16926. All
gold dealers license renewal brother Georgeley. Uh that's going to ordinance committee. Item 11726 in install at J Paul on Island Street and install at new pole 5 to approximately uh 35th from the
pole 4560 that's going to ordinance committee item 17126 uh saving hearts uh youth event 2026 resource fairs company common Saturday uh May 16 2026 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and
Friday, June 5th, 2026 from 3 pm to 6 pm. That's going to the ordinance committee. Madam chair, item u item 16326 uh United Healthcare Plant Resource Affairs Companion Common Thursday, June 8th,
uh 2026 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. That's going to the U ordinance committee. Um subcommittees ordinance committee will be as per the vice president levy on uh next Tuesday 28th at 7 p.m. budget
and finance committee. Madame chair from the budget and finance committee. >> Um does the committee oppose to meeting on Monday at 6:30 instead of Wednesday? >> If you can't, that's okay, but I'm just putting it out there.
>> Members of the committee, are you opposing? I do not >> uh on the 27th. Yes. >> All right. There is no opposition on that date. >> Okay. So, Monday the 27th at 6:30.
>> All right. No problem. Um any other committee? Housing committee, uh safety committee, uh personal committee. >> Do we have an item? >> No items on any of those. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh if anything uh please
communicate with uh with Teresa so we can arrange those meeting accordingly. >> At this time there if there is no other matter I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> There is a motion to enjoin properly second discussion. I hear none. Uh madame cler please call the role.
>> Councel plant. >> Yes. >> Council del Rosario. >> Yes. >> Councelor Reyes. >> Yes. Councelor Infante, >> sorry. Um, yes. >> Council Mama, >> yes. Council Miguel is noted as absent. Council Gonzalez, >> yes.
>> Council Levy is noted as absent. Council President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion. Motion carries. >> Thank you, everybody. Oh my god.