Good evening. I will call to order the finance committee meeting on April 23rd, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. Uh we have eight items on the on the agenda this evening. Uh communication from Mayor uh Dumis proposed tax increment financing
agreement, a TIFF. uh communication from the mayor transfer request in the amount of $784,320 from economic development to MEEDC funding for FY2026 operating budget and transfer request of 150,000 from the economic
development uh to MEEDC to fund the economic development toolbox. Communication from the mayor. MWR lead loan program bond request in the amount of se $750,000. Uh communication from the
mayor. Proposed ordinance to amendment to city code chapter 125 personnel section 6 salary schedule. Communication from the mayor. transfer request of $147,581.95 from reserve for salaries to various accounts to fund collective
bargaining agreement with the police command officers association. Uh communication from the mayor transfer request in the amount of $167,32.32 from reserve for salaries to fund the cost of living adjustment cola and stipen for all non-union employees.
Communication from the mayor grant acceptance in the amount of $450,000 and also a communication from the mayor transfer request in the amount of $63,000 $600 from reserve for salaries for salary sick leave buyback for the
mayor's office and the police department. Um for the finance committee, we will not be taking up order number one on the agenda. Uh we will take that up at a later date. They will be needing some more time to prepare for the meeting. So with that said, I'll go to agenda number two.
Order number 25-1009408. Communication from mayor transfer for $784,320 from economic development to MEEDC funding for the FY2026 operating budget MEDC and a transfer request in the amount of
150,000 for economic development to MEEDC funding for the economic development toolbox. Uh before I begin, I'll read the letter submitted by the mayor. Dear President Oing and councils, enclose for your review and approval are two transfer requests from the economic
development to the Marvel Econ economic development corporation MEEDC in the amount of $740 thou $784,320 in to fund the operating budget and $150,000 to fund the existing toolbox program. The Marbor Economic Development
Corporation is a recognized leader in business development attraction and retention with the Commonwealth, contributing to a stable and predictable tax rate for our residents in Malbor. Uh in addition to helping to secure secure largescale investments such as $25
million uh sativa through the uh expansion project this past year, MEEDC also remains committed to fostering innovation and community engagement as demonstrated through the initiatives such as the popup shop program, toolbox
program, f food truck and arts festival, and comprehensive small business support efforts which can be seen throughout our community year after year. Uh included for your review is the FY2026 operating budget and narrative from exe executive director Meredith Harris. The two
transfers are also included for your review and approval. Executive director Meredith Harris will be available at a future meeting to answer any questions you may have. Sincerely, J. Christian Dumis, Mayor. Good evening, director. Good evening. Thank you for having us.
Thank you. Welcome to your team. Uh certainly you always you always have my support, but I will let you do the introductions and you can uh expound a little bit on your budget. Sure. I I'm joined tonight, most of you know, but Linda Martin's uh director of operations at MEDC. We're excited to be here with
you guys tonight with two requests. One to um fund our operating budget and another to continue with the toolbox. Um I I think you all know a lot of what we do, but business development for the city. Um, also community development, hospitality, sports, tourism, things of that nature. But, uh, happy to open it
up and answer any questions that you guys might have. Thank you. Thank you, Georgia. Um, I'm pretty excited because I'm thinking we're going to need your help for the next couple years. Um, just reading the economic tea leaves out there. They're talking about over $3 trillion that will be invested into the
US economy. Um, 55 billion of that is from Johnson and Johnson. Not to say that we could get that, but that was the light bulb over my head. Um but with that I love a challenge council. Yeah, that's a great challenge. So what I'm basically saying we're going to absolutely need your help and assistance moving forward. Um and you know
economically that's going to help to expand the tax base. Um with that I'll open it up to the rest of the finance team and council councelor Brown. Thank you Mr. Chair and thank you Meredith and Linda for joining us tonight as well as Lindsay. Oh, so um I
want to thank you for this very welldetailed and outlined budget that you presented. Um it's just for the record and anyone listening, it is level funded at an
increase of approximately 2.9% over the current fiscal year. And um everything that I have seen from MEEDC has been it really has exceeded my
expectations. Like as I've learned about what you and your office does I feel like every time I hear more it's like wow they do that too. And so as a counselor, I've reached out to you
um about various things and you've always taken all of my questions seriously, even though some of the things that I come up with can be so far out there. You've never made me feel like any of my ideas were ideas were
silly. So, I really appreciate that. um the work that you do with the um the toolbox grants. I've seen it in play in the community. Um some of the businesses that you've highlighted in here, Spirit
in Motion, um the Classic Pizza, Ember and Alma, um I've been to these places and I've I've seen the way that the businesses have utilized the um the grant money from the toolbox. So, um, I
am in support of this. I I don't have any questions because I feel like any questions I had were answered last year cuz there's nothing new. So, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Councelor Brown. Uh, Council Fillo. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Um, very similarly, no questions for you guys. I've been a big fan of the work that you do. Um, just off the top of my head, I mean, it seems like the economic development funding has been steadily coming through. Um, no concerns there. I mean with a minimal increase to the budget I again I I don't see any any issues. So I would move the
recommendation to I know we usually take this in two steps. Thank you councelor. We will do this in two the first the budget. Second vote will be for the toolbox. Yes sir. I move to approve the MEDC budget. Motion has been made. I will second that to approve order number
25-9408 transfer of $784,000 $7843 $320 from economic development to MEEDC funding for the FY2026 operating budget. Um that is $784,320. Um Mr. Chair discussion. Oh,
councilor. Thank you. I'd second that motion um for the purpose of discussion if it wasn't seconded already. uh have a couple questions. I'm not picking on you as I was accused last year of by no means. I have questions. And so I'll
start with some of my questions. We talked about commercial space about a half year ago, I think it was, and how it's kind of dwindling and curious how we're doing at this point in terms of vacancy or vacancies. Yeah. So our overall commercial and industrial
vacancy rate is 11.3 right now. Um which is decent. It's healthy. We do still have some space that's left available. Uh one in particular, Thousand Nickerson, um which is some new space that's still on the market. So, we are actively trying to help them find tenants to fill that building. Um you
know, the the smaller blocks of space are are becoming more um as the work from home shift, people are still kind of that's all starting to to come to fruition. Are people working from home? Are they coming back to the office? So we are starting to see some spaces come
back online. Um but nothing to be concerned of at this point. What was our through your years and career here? What was our best rate for vacancy? It so it it has typically stayed pretty stable around that number. I mean from what I
can remember we have definitely hit like the 10ens at one point. Um but it has stayed at 11.3 for for quite some time. Yeah. A few years. I have questions on the toolbox, but um we'll save that for the next vote. Um and again, I agree
with councelor Brown, very good budget, the 2.9%. I saw that. Um had a couple questions on some of the um ex expenses. So, it's on um the page that mentions special projects.
Uh and we see four different areas. And if it wasn't I couldn't find it, but if you could explain a little bit about the business retention. Where's the 86,500 going to? If you have the information tonight, that would be great. I'm sorry. So you're saying so it's on
business retention. So that's the that's our entire BR& program. So that's any type of business attraction and retention that we're doing. So whether it's, you know, going out to meetings to trade shows or things of that nature to talk to the Monas of the world or the Quest Diagnostics to to try and attract
them to Malro, you're also going to see in that line um a lot of our media buy campaigns, things that we're we're promoting in different publications across the United States. Um so things like that, anything that has to do with business attraction and retention. Is that like the Phantom Gay when you have
them come into town to do overview of our restaurants, is that different? Um that one, Linda, what line? Under hospitality and sports tourism. Tourism. Next one. Y excellent. And then the last one was the urban I I know about the city planner and again I'm in disagreement that our city planner isn't
within house here, but the urban village and community development. So that one is years ago. It used to be just downtown. Um it was like a beautifification program where we did the blade signs and some different landscape programs, things like that. We actually in we expanded it to include
the Lincoln Street uh neighborhood business district as well. And so that's we work with DPW each year to do different types of beautifification projects. Um anything that's going to increase the aesthetic or or add value to the downtown or the Lincoln Street
area. So in on Lincoln Street, is that the entire strip or is that where the new development was put in Alta? No, that's the neighborhood business district which is the entire all the way up to the end. Correct. Yep. up near the Prospector too in that area as well. Thank you. Um Bob will be happy I asked
that question. Uh I'm very happy to see you have internship summer programs and that will continue. Correct. And there's a few things in here that you know I look at it and not your issue because you have to have a place to be housed, you have to have accounting, you have to
have your benefits. I just don't see an economy to scale. And that's again, not it's the model that you have that concerns me, not the employees. You guys do a great job and my compliments on the mayor's charity event. That was fantastic. I know you had a lot to do
with it. Meredith happened to catch me on Friday before it. And I'm just want to be clear that is not through MEC. That is us as residents volunteering. You got a great great job as a resident. I appreciate that. When I saw you Friday, I thought you were overwhelmed. So I didn't know if that was yours. But
um some of the other questions, a couple more uh dues and subscriptions 23,500. What is that for? So the biggest chunk of that it goes towards a service called Co-Star. So that's what we use to track all of the open the vacancy rate that you were just talking about. So
that's how we track any type of movement in the market. Um so it's a service that we use if if a business calls and says, "Hey, I'm looking for this type of a space with these types of specs. I need a loading dock. I need this." It's a service that we're able to go in and plug in what they're looking for. Um,
which allows us to play a role of site selector with the businesses that are looking to come in. Is that how we may have seen the crime lab? Did they go through you in that same co-star process? Not that one. I mean, we typically will utilize that for smaller, you maybe 25 to 50,000 foot tenants. Um,
but it is really helpful when, you know, somebody comes to us and they're not necessarily working through a broker, but they're looking to see what we have available in the in the city. were able to do a really specialized search for them. So, you have to pay them a subscription fee that's not free. You
just Correct. That's right. Yes. Like I said, I those are my only questions. The economy of scale obviously I know it's the model that you have. I'd love to see economic development within the city government, not a separate entity. I
think it would be best you you look throughout Massachusetts and I've done surveys. We're very unique in all respects and and Marble is a great community. We are we got highway access, we got water, we got sewer, we're a magnet in my view. We're a great
location and you do need to sell it. Don't get me wrong, you do need to sell it. But I work for other communities where I see it being sold under the town or city government. So again, that's something you can't change and I get it and I wouldn't be asking you to, but it's concerning me as a counselor
because this year we're already hearing heard it before at the previous meeting. Budgets are going to be tight, tough, and it's hard for me as a city councelor to support 754,000. That's my view, you know, because I have to answer to the
residents of Marro. So it's a lot of money and I see the economy as scale as and others can comment but I see it when it comes to being within the house having your bud not your budget but your accounting within house and heat and utilities and all that adds up as you
know even your benefits add up we have better benefits over here if I could sell you on that uh you get I'm very happy where I am thank you I'm not trying to sell you I'm just saying in my view you know it would the economy of scale is what I'm looking at as a city council not, you know, but again, thank
you for what you do. I'm not in any way concerned about what you do for our city. Thank you. Thank you, councelor Councelor Naven. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, Meredith, Linda, the whole team. Um, thank you all for being here. Um, I'm going to echo a little bit with counselors Brown and Fill um and Irish
said with um doing a little bit of kudos um to you all. Um, you guys do great work. I think everybody knows that um your reputation here in the city and quite frankly the reputation that you've given the city um during the past at least my time on the council and I know
quite a bit before then um really does speak for itself. um the wins that you've had this year with SaitTiva and landing the state crime lab. Um I know we have had this conversation um it's not something that is trumpeted within the city's media environment. Um and that can be for many reasons, many of
which is we don't have much of a media environment these days. Um I don't think people realize what a win that is. Um and it is it is a credit to the hard work um of your office and the mayor. um we've had this conversation, but in my day-to-day I get to talk to people um
through across eastern Massachusetts um at the municipal level and they talk a lot about when they find out I'm from Malro. Um the comments are always the same. It is what are you guys doing out there? Um you guys are just beating everybody else. Um and it is a lot of it
is directly attributable um to the work that you guys do. Um taking advantage of some of the things council or just said, right, we have water and we have sewer. Everybody has water and sewer. However, um you know, we do have the finest drinking water in the nation and um
because of that um we are able to take uh quite a bit of advantage of it. but the fact that you guys are out there hustling every day. Um, and I would add a comment to um, some of the things that council Orm just said because of the structure that you have within our organization and w outside of our
organization as municipal government, I think is what sets you apart and it does give you the ability to go out and be more agile and be more flexible and be more creative about some of the things that you're able to do that land us the companies that make us the envy of the
region. And so um hats off to you. Um this is a lot of money and I hesitate to say this and I recognize that we are coming up on an election year. It is short money. Um and it is money that you are generating through the work that you do because it is funding it is funded through the
hotels tax and you are directly generating the money. Um that the the training aspect of the SaitTiva um deal that you guys work so hard on is going to bring in incredible tourism. those people are going to stay in our hotels. Those taxes are going to fund this
organization. Um and it is a direct benefit. Um so it is it is kudos to you all um for the work that you have done. Um and you know again as it is going to be an election year as we all dread and we'll look forward to in November. We are all going to trot out the same and
tired answer to the question of what do you see for downtown? What do you want to do? What's your biggest initiative? And then we're all going to sit there and go we need to drive more people downtown. Um, and you guys are always leading that charge and you are having that conversation and I really appreciate it. I look forward to saying I look forward to working with MEDC and
we're going to do some great stuff downtown. Um, but the seeds that you have planted um are starting to come home and that is a kudos to you and I'm going to just say my toolbox um bit now so I don't have to talk again. But um you know you guys came in in this kind
of 30,000 foot global big business. This is who we are. This is how we're going to drive this economy. this toolbox program that you have worked on is having real impacts for small businesses that are the backbone of our community and you are helping them in a way that perhaps people don't know. Um and you
guys approach business development from a holistic standpoint. It is good for the businesses. It is good for our community. Um and it is driving our our city forward. So thank you. No question. Councelor Ducet. Thank you very much Mr. Chair. Um, I need to echo a lot of what
councelor Naven was saying as far as um the work that you guys do, you know, in uh capturing some businesses that we got. Mona blows me away still. I mean, you know, that that's a huge quiet facility, you know, for us to to have
this here. Um, as well as other ones continuing to come in, the state crime lab and all that stuff. So, um, you know, the the your funding is done through, um, hotel taxes and, you know, and at this point, you know, I think this is fine because we have
enough hotel taxes to cover it. And as long as that continues, I think we're fine, at least from from that perspective, hopefully that's not going to change, you know. Um, but um, and I'll I'll also talk about the toolbox when Thank you for that. I appreciate
this. Sure. um she printed out just a list of who was getting the toolboxes and when. Um and they're all small businesses and they're all still around and that's kind of what I was asking for, you know, like of the money that's been going out, how many are still there? Just a general question. And all these names I still recognize. So
that's, you know, there might be a few that I don't, but that's okay. Um but I think that's important that you know we have this opportunity for small businesses and large businesses you know to help them move forward in the city and having that uh those resources is
critical to attract businesses of all sizes and I think you guys continue to you know knock it out of the park you know um you know the I think the economics of scale reference is because you're so small compared to the city if you were city employees that would you
know we could cover it on greater scale but I think the arms reach away from the city has benefits in negotiations okay and we really can't ignore that you know when it comes into businesses coming in and talking to someone it's
you know we we do things different and this is what we can do and you have a track record now that they can go back to and oh you did this and this so I think overall the more you do this I think the more attraction there will be for getting people into Malo. So if if I
can just comment on that, we I I we call it the secret sauce at the office and we've had more calls in the past six months of our neighboring communities to try to find out what what is your secret sauce? How do you guys do what you do? And so I think the model um is becoming
very well known in the Commonwealth, but nobody's been able to emulate it to to date. Um so we're I think we are very unique, but I think it's a puts us in a very special position to be able to do things that we wouldn't be able to do if we weren't. There was a state law, I think it was a home rule petition to start MEDC. Absolutely. So, it has to
start with some other city or municipality decided to do that or not. Don't don't give them the idea. Well, so far no one's got the clue yet. So, yeah. Right. But yes. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Council. Motion's been made and seconded to
approve the ME Oh, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I I just want to recognize some of the stuff that MEED MEEDC does from a hospitality and business standpoint. So from a hospitality standpoint runs under the radar, but you go to any of the restaurants and ask them who trains some
of their staff on tips, who train some of their staff on CPR and the stuff that doesn't get a whole lot of press, but our restaurants benefit and ultimately we benefit as far as how it's funded. It's funded through a hotel tax. So, I'm
going to tell you schools looking for an 11% increase. That's coming from the taxpayer. Cable that we just approved 8% increase is coming from the taxpayer. The MEEDC 2.9%. Level funded. If I could get
the rest of everybody else to fall in line with that, this would be a very easy budget cycle. All right. And we don't even know what the city side's coming in at yet. But what what they're asking is basically level funded with just salary adjustments like everybody else gets in a product that they produce is
outstanding. Um and the last piece is even though MEEDC brings the Saitas, the BJs, Storiuses, and now the crime lab, this body is the one that has to approve the tiff. They can bring them here, but we
have to do the leg work that says go approve the tiff. All right? And and so this body gets credit for that part of the program. All right? So I mean they're doing the good job bringing it in, but you know, we get the ultimate because we'll be the ones that get the
feedback for did we do it a good job or not on the companies that we've selected. And those are all top rate companies that have been coming to Malbor. All right. And then I will continue to pitch. The city does not lose a dime on a tiff. And and and I
will bang that drum as loud as I can. And finally, as far as bringing MEEDC into the city side, we don't have to pay pension. We don't have to pay OPED. They are the most fis and you can see it by the percentage of the budget that
they're asking for their increase. We are getting such a good deal with the performance of the MEEDC staff. We all should be proud of that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, M. Very good points. Thank you. Thank you. Motion has been made and seconded to approve the
MEEDC transfer in the transfer request for the operating budget FY 2026. All in favor? All opposed. Carries 4 to one. Thank you. Next up, um thank you, Linda, also for the uh the toolbox and center program.
Thank you very much. Um with that said, I will entertain a motion for the uh toolbox transfer. Mr. Chair, council, if I may. Council Brown was at me. Council Brown. Council Brown. I was just going to move to approve the
$150,000 for the to replenish the toolbox fund. Motion has been made. I will second that to approve the transfer request in the amount of $150,000 from economic development to MEEDC funding for the economic development toolbox. Any further discussion? Councilor. And
I'll say it with a smile. This is a fantastic, fantastic program. Helps our small businesses. It's not a lot of money. It's 150,000. I think it's the best thing about the whole program is to help our small businesses as well. So, it kind of complements drawing in larger
businesses at the same time helping our community, especially our small business community. So, good point. I'm 100% in support of the toolbox. Thank you, Council Vital. I just would like to have I'd like to just a quick little uh
snippet if you would about how the approval process gets done and how uh accounts receivables get done. Sure. So the I'll start with the approval process. Um so we have what's called the the toolbox committee. We actually Dan Stanh Hope is here um sits
on the toolbox committee who's also our treasurer at MEEDC. But we have a group of board members that review all of the applications. Well I should take it back a step. Linda takes all the applications in at the office, works with the applicant to put together a package that then goes to the subcommittee. The
subcommittee will then take a vote on the application, and then it comes to the executive committee for final either approval or denial. Um, from an accounts receivable standpoint, that's Linda's part of her job is to manage all of the toolbox grants, the money that's going out, making sure that we're receiving
all of the appropriate paperwork that goes along with it. All of the programs are reimbursement, so we need to see receipts for everything that's purchased, uh, you know, rent, if it's their receipt from their landlord, all of those things. Linda manages all of that, uh, intake. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr.
Chair. Thank you, Council. Mr. President, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, it'll come as no surprise. I'm on that executive committee and I track the budget monthly and I have all my sheets if anybody wants to see them and I torture them just as I do all my favorite department heads. There is no
and I I can say with all confidence the money being spent at MEDC is being spent wisely. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Point. Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for that. Motion has been made and seconded to uh approve the $150,000 to fund the existing toolbox program. All in favor?
It carries. Five to zero. Thank you, director. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. Up next is uh agenda item order number 25-1009409. Communication from the mayor. uh MWR
lead loan program bond requests in the amount of $750,000 to replace galvanized and brass water services pursuant to new mass D regulations. I'll begin by reading the letter from the mayor. Honorable President Oing and councils enclosed for
your approval is a capital bond request in the amount of $750,000 to authorize the city to borrow funds through the Mass Water Resources Authority LED leo loan program. Please see the enclosed memorandum from Ted Scott, acting DPW, which is now the the
commissioner uh detailing city's lead service line replacement program. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office. Jay Christian Dumis, mayor. Mr. Mr. Chair, before you go too far, just a point of honor. Councelor Naven reh recused himself. He's not here
just for the record. Oh, yeah. Thank Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Council. Good evening, city engineer Dersio. How are you? Good evening, councelor Irish. Um, so thanks for having us here and for considering this bond request. Um, just
a little bit of background. Thank you. So, we in Malro continue to be at the forefront of compliance with um these EPA and D um regulations that come from the EPA lead and copper rule and and revisions
to that about 5 years ago that told cities and towns that they have to start to develop first inventories of all the uh water services that are made of lead and then set goals goals to replace all of
those with with the um objective to get potential for lead to leech into drinking water from these pipes. So, um, we at Malro really at the at the very beginning, um, went ahead and and thanks to the,
um, consideration of the city council to help fund it through, um, no interest loan from the MWR, over the past five years, we have replaced uh, 1,350 uh, lead water services in the
city. Um, and uh, we really, I think, as far as I know, if not the furthest along, one of the towns in the state that's furthest along, there's there's cities and towns in in the region that are really just trying to get a handle on
their inventory still, and we're we're really kind of near the finish line of this project. Um so as because we were early into uh doing the work as as we went through this um work some of the I'll say the
goalpost slid a little bit or so there were some added mandates that came that had to do with services also that are made of other materials that aren't copper like brass or galvanized steel um because they can have lead fittings
uh associated with them. So, we're at the point in our project where we're down to um approximately 59 to 75 of these remaining services that um it's really
just we just want to be done with this to be honest. It's been a um a long project and there's an opportunity to get another no interest loan to fund this kind of last leg of the project. Um and so I just want to also give a
shout out to my staff at engineering and Mark for managing this. I mean it's you can imagine good to see over a thousand um services in five years through the city and really what I think is minimal disruption to daily life and so it's it was a huge undertaking and it it was
really successful. Um and so this again this this last loan is to fund that last piece of it. Now, um the obviously because it's a 10-year uh interest free, the goal would be to try to complete this within those 10 years. Yeah, the
work the work will be completed. Um we're we're ready to put it out to bid and the work will be completed within a year, I would say. I mean, it's uh we've kind of got it down now. Um as long as we get another good contractor, um this will be a kind of one construction season. Then you'd be able to finish
those up. Yep. Oh, thank you. Yep. So, the repayment terms, which I confess I don't fully understand how all that works, but it's a 10-year repayment. Repayment and it's interest free. So, I I like that. Yep. Uh, council vital. Thank you, gentlemen, for like getting ahead on this important issue. I'd like
to this this is a no-brainer to me. I'd like to make a motion to approve the uh bond request in the amount of $750,000 uh to replace the galvanized and brass water services. Mot motion has been made and I will second that to approve order number
25-1009409 MWR loan uh lead loan program bond request in the amount of $750,000 to replace galvaniz and brass water service pursuant to the new mass DEBT regulations. Any further discussion? Council, I just had a question. Tom, you said it quickly, but how many
connections do we have left to do approximately? So, I think 59 is the number in the application. 59. It may be as many as 75. And um it's the 75 number that we kind of use to roughly estimate how much this bond is about 10,000. The
connection give or take. Yep. Thank you. I missed I thought you said 159, but 59. Thank you to 75. Councelor V. I'm sorry, Council Det. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Um I remember this came up five
years ago. Um so couple of things. first is you're changing the feed into the house, right? The piping in the house is not being changed at all. So that and and the homeowners understand that as
you go in and make these changes, right? Just because especially with the older houses, you may find out there's still lead pipes in the houses, right? Or solder in the joints. Yeah. So that's part of the notifications that the EPA requires that we send out that type of notification and all that. Okay. Um and
then um what is it going to be replaced with copper? Is that the intent? Yep. Okay. So um and uh so we we actually did over 1300 replacements already. It's amazing.
So when you came you okay one final thing because it seems that when you came back five years ago you said here we go this is it coming back now it's like oh wait there's this little you know there's this outliers that still need to get done after you're done with this is there anything else that may
come back to bite us. So um you know part of this is because they added this requirement for brass and and galvanized steel um that come from the fed of the state. Yeah. Yes, correct. Okay. What's that?
Yeah. Who which one of the two? It's it's both. It's EPA and D that kind of So, okay. So, I mean, five years later, we're we're you know, the rules have changed. We have to adapt to it. It something like this could happen again down the pike. Down the pike. Yeah. I
mean, there's not too many other types of materials for the water services that So there, you know, our records aren't perfect. So the record, the inventories and the records that we use to come up with these lists are hand notes on cards that are overund years old inspectors
you know in 1905 or whatever. So and over the years, you know, parts of those might have been fixed and we don't know how much. So there's there's always going to be a little unknown. Um but we've gone through it multiple iterations of this now. You know, I
think we're pretty confident that we got, you know, I think you guys have done amazing work here. Seriously, this is great. And it's just, you know, my first reaction seeing this, oh, yet again, you know, type of thing. But it it's not downplaying the work that you do. Just more things that you need to keep an eye out for. So, thank you.
Appreciate it. Thank you, Council Ducet. Mr. President, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mark, Tom, great job. Appreciate all the work. And Tom, I appreciate all the responses to my numerous questions on the uh the item. I I would ask if the finance committee votes favorably if they would be able to suspend the rules
uh on Monday evening to approve this to allow the city to get started on the project. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you. Motion has been made and seconded to approve the $750,000 bond request with a suspension. All in favor?
It carries. Five to zero. Thank you. Up next is order number 25-1009411 communication from the mayor proposed ordinance amendment to the city code chapter 125 personnel section 6 salary schedule relative to the positions of part-time assistant
electrical and plumbing inspectors and I will read the letter submitted by the mayor. Dear council president Oing and counselors in closed for your review and approval is a proposed rate increase for our part-time positions of the assistant electrical and plumbing inspectors. Uh
according to the attached memorandum from building commissioner Tin Tinuay uh the current inspection rate paid by the city is considerably lower than those of smaller neighboring communities. As a result of uh the department has faced challenges retaining inspectors at this
lower rate leading to delays in local projects across the city. It is important to my administration that we recognize and support the needs of our departments. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my office with any questions. Sincerely Jay Christian Dumismeir.
Good evening Commissioner Twe. Now I Oh, I want to say thank you too for submitting some uh some other communities what they are paying. Um I I do support this because I know the the amazing amount of work that comes out of your office. Um I don't know if you want
to comment on that from some of the surrounding communities what with the you know for the pay rate and everything like that and how you kind of came to that conclusion but I do support that. Oh, thank sorry. Um, starting again. U, yes, we have excellent staffing, but to
retain them, we do need to stay competitive with what we're paying them from salary range and also the rate of pay for these uh assistant plumbing and assistant while electrical wiring inspectors. So, um it's fairly simple request. Um, it's been a while, I think
over 10 years since they received a rate increase. So, um, and I don't want to lose these folks. They're well trained. They're also very efficient and, um, so we wanted to stay competitive. So, um, they've taken at a point in time there
was other priorities because they work other jurisdictions and they were taking those calls over ours. So, we were falling behind in our level of service and that's one of the reasons that brought this to my attention. So, so another community could get the inspection first. Yep. Prior to Marro,
correct? Thank you, Council Vital. Thank you, Mr. Chair. How many How many um of these uh contractors do you bring in on an annual basis? The inspectors, um we
have two part-time uh wiring and one uh plumbing. So, we we've been trying to recruit more, but it's very difficult. Um and also within the industry they're aging out so finding people training them it's difficult. So then my my
second question is based on this the the salary information that you provided from other municipalities why isn't the recommendation to go to $45 an hour? We thought it was a middle ground that it would be fair for both e you know for our budgeting purposes that we could
retain them at that rate. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Bye, C. Councelor Brown. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Tim, for joining us. Um, I was just curious. Um, so when the inspectors go um to
sites to do their inspections, do they um do they use their personal vehicles? Do they if they do, do they get any reimbursement? Yes, they do use their personal vehicles. they they're supposed to get reimbursement for their mileage. They don't always turn it in, but yes,
it is in within the the process. And we have a budget item for mileage and instate travel. Okay. Thank you. And then I was also wondering um about how um how long would a typical inspection take an inspector to perform? I know
that different sites are different sizes, but it depends. So like for Alta French Hill, they may spend two, three hours there because they're doing several a block of units and there'll be
maybe two inspections in each one of those units and they may do 30 of them in a day and then they that's just one location. Then they may have throughout the city they're covering. Also, when the the regular uh inspector is on leave, sick, vacation, whatever, or
there's an overload, they'll they'll fill in there, too. So, they they do respond to other things, and special projects sometimes will have things. Uh so, it does vary their responsibilities, but they're enforcing the codes uh and the disciplines that they're under. Thank you. Um, and so the people who
perform inspections, are they essentially dedicated to performing inspections in our municipality or are they able to is it a full-time position? I guess it's not. It's a part this role is a is
a part-time as needed. So they'll a lot of them own their own companies and uh they do this on the side. the plumbing inspeant plumbing inspector. I I don't know if he still actively runs his own company, but he covers five other
jurisdictions. So, um, and they're they're busy. They're they're flatout busy. So, some days they couldn't come to Marbor at all. And so, we were waiting two, three, four days sometimes. That's actually what I was wondering is if um because you know if you have an
inspector and you have a list of inspections that need to be done here at $25 per inspection or they could go to North Bro and so I was just wondering if that was kind of affecting the rate at which we're getting things done it was
affecting our level of service. So, I would I fully support this, especially from my perspective in my own um in my own employment. When I have a new teacher come in and I train them and then they find out they could maybe make a little
bit more money down the road, sometimes that's not even a better school or a better program, but people chase the money. So, um I am fully in support of this and I move to approve the rate change as presented. Motion has been
made. Um I will second that to approve the proposed ordinance amendment to the city code chapter 125 personnel section 6 salary schedule relative to the position of part-time assistant electrical plumbing inspector for $40 per inspection. Any further discussion?
Mr. Chair, council or Thank you. Um I'm kind of concerned as I think council of vital brought it up to. Are we at that right point or should we be when I'm looking at 95% of permit fee in Berlin? What's that drawing out? Do you
know? I'm not sure exactly how they came up with their Berlin is um Berlin, right? Berlin. Yeah. Yeah. uh they have a unique uh process over there a lot of farm community residential but every
once in a while they'll have a large commercial project coming in so I didn't speak with them directly on how they came up with that it's it is rather unusual their setup I think they're overpaying them a little bit so could be and based on what we're planning to do
is to go to $40 per inspection is what are we collecting in fees are we at least percentwise Are we at least 50% collecting? I believe so. I did look into it. Um, we're on the residential
side, I would recommend a uh a rate increase there. I think it's low, especially on the plumbing side. And on the electrical side, uh, probably restructuring how the fees are calculated instead of doing it by fixtures or type, but do it more by
construction cost. it stays that way. It stays in line with as construction increases, we stay in line with that aspect. So, and I support this. I respect the fact that we could be losing people if other communities are paying more. And you know, they have to have
knowledge. They have to have expertise. So, with that said, I'm in support of this as well. Thank you. Motion has been made and seconded to approve the proposed ordinance amendment to the city code. All in favor? Carries. 5 to zero. Thank you, Commissioner.
Thank you. Up next is order number 25-1009406, communication from the mayor. transfer of $147,58581.95 from reserve for salaries to various accounts to fund the collective bargaining agreement with the police command officers association
local 366. I'll begin by reading the letter submitted by the mayor. Honorable President Oing and counselors, I'm pleased to submit for your review and approval a transfer to fund the collective bargaining agreement between the city and Malro Police Command
Officers uh association local 366, Mass COP, IUPA, AFL CIO, collectively the union. Um, I would like to express my gratitude to Chief Georgie, our human resource resources director and the union for their dedication and
collaboration in reaching a fair and equitable agreement. Uh, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office. Sincerely, Jay. Christian Dumis, mayor. And I'll open that up if any questions for the finance committee.
Council Vital. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was just curious of this amount. What what percentage um of an increase is this? Do we know the percentage that they agreed to in the CDA? I don't know
the negotiated percentage. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Congratulations on getting this one done. Thank you. Can you please repeat the question
counsel through you Mr. Chair? The question was what what's this this dollar amount? What percentage of an increase is that over the you know the last CBA the total increase for the three-year contract? Yes, please. Believe it's
about 11% but 11% over. So we are still negotiating with other contracts as well. So, um, yes, but they're pretty even across the board. So, I believe it was about 11% total with the incentives that are
rolled in. Is it 443 or is No. So, the cola based upon the contract is 222 and then there's other incentives that are rolled in. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. You're welcome. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Council Vital. Councilman. Yes.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. to the mayor. Uh on the um overview of it, I noticed u overtime regular uh this expense there. Where do we stand with our staffing ratio? Not ratio, but our staffing. Are we down a few command officers and have
to use overtime? I don't know that answer. I can find that for you. Yeah, I always have asked the police chief that during budget time so I can ask at that time as well. But just want to make sure our police department is properly staffed. So that's why I always look at overtime.
Just may say something to that, but you don't have to answer now. We can wait for the budget time period, but thank you. I believe officer Nay is retiring so as of tomorrow. So yeah. So we'll be down at least one. But thank you,
Council. And and I excuse me, Mr. Mayor. And and still working on negotiation with the with one more contract or That is correct. So, we still have fire who met last night as a union. So, they're going to come back to the table after that meeting last night. Um, as of this morning, I believe MMEA just um agreed
to the terms. So, they have to vote on that contract. In labor, we are at an impass. So, we are setting dates to go to arbitration. So, and that's the final three. So, we are close, but yet still so very far, it feels like. So, thank you, Mr. May. You're welcome.
Council B. Make a motion to uh approve the transfer of $147,581.95 cents from the reserve for salaries uh in accordance with the collective bargain and agreement with the uh police command officers association. Motion has been made uh and
seconded to approve order number 25-1009406 transfer of 147,581.95 from reserve for salaries to various accounts to fund the collective bar bargaining agreement with the police commands officers association local 366. Any further discussion? All in favor
carries five to zero. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Up next is order number 25-1009407. Communication from the mayor transfer in the amount of 167,32.32 uh from reserve for salaries to various
accounts to fund a cost of living adjustment, a colar and stipen for all non-union employees. Um, I'll begin by reading the letter submitted by the mayor. Honorable President Oing and councilors, in keeping with the practices of the previous
administration, I am pleased to submit for your review and approval a request for a transfer to fund a cost of living adjustment, a COLA, and stipen for all non-UN employees. The caller is consistent with the terms agreed upon in our finalized collective bargaining
agreement agreements. This transfer will enable the city to acknowledge the contributions of our non-union employees during the collective bargaining agreement negotiations and to to provide a deserved adjustment for the cola. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office. Sincerely, Jay
Christian Dumis, mayor. I will open that up to the finance committee with any questions. Council a motion to approve. Motion has been made and seconded to
approve the transfer in the amount of 167,32.32 from reserve for salaries to various accounts to fund a cost of living adjustment cola and stipen for all non-UN employees. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? A carries five to zero.
Next up is order number 25-10094044. Communication from mayor grant acceptance in the amount of $450,000 awarded to the city of Malro for various projects as outlined in the mayor's letter as part of the fiscal year 2025 state budget airmarks
fundings. Um I'll begin by reading the letter submitted by the mayor. Dear council president Oing and councils enclosed for your acceptance are grants in the form of earmarks that were filed and supported by a legislative delegation in the amount of
$450,000. Our legislative uh delegation worked diligently to secure these funds for the following purposes. Procurement and installation of security cameras for our marble community development authority public housing which is 30,000. uh procurement and installation
of temporary speed bumps and signage for the trafficcoming measures in the city in the amount of 75,000. Building and installation of a covered uh pavlon uh at uh Galoney Park which is $35,000. Uh procurement of an outreach
city vehicle to be used by the city hall departments uh in the amount of $50,000. Support the construction of a dog park at Galoney Park for $35,000. replacement of the boiler at city hall in the amount of $25,000. Funding for the Malber Economic
Development Corporation shuttle shut Shuttle Service for the amount of $200,000. Um, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Representative Representative Danielle Grego and her staff for securing these important funds that help support various projects and initiatives
throughout the city. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with the with any questions. Sincerely, Jay. Christian Doom as mayor and for the finance we'll take things up in order. Oh, Mr. President. So, if I could, so counselors, the chairman asked the the
grant sheets be provided. So, I had copies of them. They have my notes on them. Those are my notes in red. So, don't that's those are my opinions. So, you'll hear me speak to them as they come up. you don't those they're not necessarily shared by the rest of the council but just so that you know what
the notes are that's why you have them but that's we'll take each grant be taken up on its own merits and voted accordingly by the finance committee. Thank you Mr. Chair. Thank you Mr. President. Good good point. So the first one is uh the 30,000 for the uh security
cameras um at for public housing. Any questions in regards? Oh, Mr. Chair, Council Fill, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a quick question. Correct me if I'm wrong, but did we receive funding last year for this as well? So, was this
an expansion of of security cameras that have already been installed or is this just a kind of keeping up with practice. Maybe maybe I'm remembering incorrectly. I don't believe that we got it. Okay. Last year, we got a fiber grant. So, maybe that's what you're thinking of.
Okay. Could be. Yeah. All right. And so that's uh that project is going to be do you do we know which buildings exactly we're going to on Pleasant Street and Bolton Street. Okay, great. Thank you, Mr. Thank you. Good question, Council Fel. Council Vital. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a very quick question. These
cameras that are going into public housing, are the residents going to be informed that these cameras are are going to be installed? They'll be for outside use and they will be notified. Correct. Thank you. There's already cameras on Main Street location. So now it's just for added safety for the
Bolton Street and Pleasant Street locations. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Council. Just Mr. Chair, just council. On that same question, I'd like to just go one step further. Will these cameras be linked to the central base like the police station
or Well, I see our computer guy already shaking his head. Yes. You want to let the mayor answer? That is correct. That's good because ironically I bought a Ringbell just about a month ago and it's amazing what they pick up, you know. So these cameras
are excellent to have for security purposes and safety. So thank you for that consideration. What's that? Uh if you want access, Mr. Gibbs, I'll be glad to give you access. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Councilor. Any further questions? I will
entertain a motion. Motion's made. I will second that to approve uh the $30,000 grant procurement installation of the security cameras for the Marorrow Community Development Authority Public Housing. All in favor carries 5 to zero.
Next up is the installation of temporary speed bumps and signage for the trafficcoming measures in the city. And that one is in the amount of $75,000. Any Oh, councelor Fitchel. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, just a couple of quick questions about this. I know
obviously traffic is has been a big hot button issue throughout the city and we've all tried to address it in in different ways and I know temporary speed bumps have been in the conversation for some time now. From my understanding going to traffic commission meetings, it it appears to me that it's not really in the purview of the traffic commission to be installing
speed bumps. Now, may maybe temporary speed bumps, but my question is where exactly do we plan on putting these? Are these going to be used for school zones? kind of what what is the vision of this? Yeah, so the vision is that's why they are temporary. So they are movable. So the idea is to move them throughout the
city based upon traffic needs and trends. So that was the idea and the concept. It's a stepping stone to see if we actually want to place full um speed bumps in the in the long-term future. But um as of right now, it's just a temporary so they can be utilized
and moved accordingly throughout the city. Sure. Do do we know how exactly I'm just trying to think who's going to say like where where they're going to go? Where is the speed bump going to go on this day, this day? Does that go through a formal process like traffic commission or or would it just be the purview of of kind of you guys? Yeah, counselor that and that's kind of like
the key question and it is a traffic commission purview question. So, as you can imagine, th those requests already do go to traffic commission. And what the commission has been working on over the past several months is a policy by
which we can make that decision of where they're appropriate because they can't be put everywhere. And you know, there's some there's some unintended consequences that can come from these. You can drive traffic to other neighborhoods. You can uh you can slow
down emergency response. you can cause drainage problems, nuis noise nuisance. There's all kinds of things that go along with it. So, the commission is working on a pol a written policy that'll really outline all the steps that we'll go through when a request
comes in. A lot of it's going to be um data collection. We want to, if we're going to put these out, we want to know what are they working, you know? So, we want to know what the traffic conditions are existing, determine if it's appropriate
based on all the different things we need to look at, and then evaluate it while the speed bumps are there, maybe even looking at side streets around there. Are we driving traffic to other streets? And so there's a lot that's going to go into that written policy um
before we can um that's how the decision will get made ultimately. No, I I appreciate that insight and I'm uh looking forward to seeing kind of how we go with this. I know there's been a a lot of spitballing about what's the best way to address traffic in Malro. So I I appreciate that we're taking some steps and what I
believe to be, you know, a good direction. So thank you. A very good question, Council Joe. That was a couple of questions that I had too talking previously with, you know, Commissioner Scott and yourself about speed bumps and Chief Georgie. So, great points. Um, Council Vital. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um,
I'm against speed bumps on any public roads. Um, I am in favor of like the speed bumps that are on the high school. I even though that's might be officially a public road, I think that that's appropriate. I like the speed bumps at Galoney Park. Um, that's appropriate. Um, but I'm I I don't agree with any
type of speed bumps out on public roads for numerous reasons. Um, particularly in my ward. So, thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Council Council Orm. No, I feel that the local ward counselors are going to be getting lots
of calls if this goes through. I'm at large, but when I was in Ward 6, uh, this came up quite a few times and the police chiefs through the years were against them. Uh, I think we do have to vet to some degree where they're safe.
And my question, are they just the smaller ones? Are they going to be elongated to some degree? So, the it's a longer speed bump than very short speed bump. I don't know if that's been detailed out yet or worked out. No, generally the temporary ones are either
very short, like a foot wide, or maybe up to three feet wide or so. Um, just because you have to be able to move them around. Um, And so just and to speak to councelor Vital's point about the ones at the uh
at Porio Drive and at Colonia Park. So those because that question has come up before. We put them there. Why can't you put them on, you know, other streets? And really, it was the it was the abundance of pedestrians in those two places that really drove us to say, well, they're appropriate here. There's
some crosswalks where there's obviously a lot of people walking there. So that's where how those came to be and I think that that's kind of um one of the factors that's going to maybe be a warrant for um other ones on and if I
thank you if I may I just had two other questions. So obviously you'll learn as you go. Will there be signage so that people especially if it's brand new don't realize they're driving and all of a sudden you know the car falls apart? That would be my car. Uh but curious uh
there will be signage for these speed bumps. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, there'll be signage there. You know, again, this will be part of the policy that that we're developing, but there'll be um what I see the policy, the final policy is including is making sure an entire
neighborhood or street or you know, or most of it anyway buys in and it's it's a you know, some percentage of the residents on a street. So they'll kind of know ahead of time, but yeah, there'll be signage that goes on, warning signs. And and last question is related to removal of the speed bumps
during snowplow season. Will they be removed? Thank you. Good question, Councelor Brown. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so when I saw the speed bump piece, I was definitely questioning some of the same things
counselor Fill had brought up because historically I just remember, you know, speaking to the police chief and it seems to be something we've always kind of stayed away from. But with that, just about anything related to traffic and
roads and traffic safety, I defer to the traffic commission. So if this is something um traffic commission's creating um policy and instruction for use um I am going to defer to traffic commission because they're the ones who
are the experts on that. So I I'm interested to see what it looks like as far as the policy for use. Um but if this is something that traffic commission is supporting then I would also support it. Thank you. Thank you councelor Brown.
Mr. President, Tom, how many speed bumps does $75,000 buy us? Um, a lot. I I've started looking just initially at some vendors and it seems like for 2 to
3,000 is what it would cost for one 24T long. And of course, there's signage that goes along with it. Um, but I think what we see some of this funding is maybe some of the speed speed data
collection boxes that we're going to need to collect the data to decide where these go. Um, and I talked we talked to the police chief briefly about that and he he agreed that that would be a good idea too because again we want to make sure
that um we thoroughly vet out where these are going to go and that we've got good data. So, between signage and the speed humps themselves and um maybe some additional data collection and I don't know if there's additional uh a trailer
or tools that need to go into these. We're just kind of starting to look at that kind of stuff now, but um thanks Tom. Yep. Thank you, M. Thank Mr. Council Villo. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm going to move to uh uh recommend we approve um this grant. And mostly I I
feel like this is giving you guys another tool. I feel like as as a city, it's our responsibility to give the traffic commission the appropriate tools to to move forward and to make our traffic in Malbor safer. And so, so for me, that's how I see it. And and similar to councelor Brown's point, um I think it's important that we equip you guys
with those tools and then defer to you also in conversation. Um, you know, I see many counselors at traffic commission every month to have these conversations about where it's appropriate or where we'd, you know, like to see this sort of stuff go. So, um, I move to approve, um, the grant. Thank you, Councel. Motion has been made
and seconded to approve, uh, the, uh, $75,000 grants in the form of airmarks that will, uh, procurement, installation of temporary speed bumps, and signage for traffic calming measures in the city in the amount of $75,000. All in favor? Carries. 5-0. All
opposed. Four to one. Thank you, Cif. Thank you. Next up is uh building installation of a coveret pavilion at uh Galoney Park in the amount of $35,000. I'll open that up to the finance committee. Any questions in
regards to that? If not, motion to approve. Motion was ma. Motion has been made and seconded to approve the grants in the forms of airmarks in the amount of 35 in the amount of $35,000
uh for the uh pavilion at Galoney Park. All in favor? Oh, council Mr. discussion first, right? Yes. Sorry, Mr. P. Motion was made. Any further discussion? So, Tom, so is it design done for this or is this a just a
concrete patio? What are we looking at? So, the pavilion, Chuck had um Chuck from Recreation had um kind of some preliminary drawings drawn up and an estimate done for a pavilion. And the estimate for that one was about
$350,000 I think. And so we looked at that and between the facilities people um and some uh you know their their architect. We had drawn up some plans for a pavilion
and the goal the the plan now is to use our own forces to build this and to use this 35,000 toward the materials for that. So, it's a it's a it's um what are the dimensions again, Mark? Approximately 30 uh 30 by 48. 30 by 48.
So, a concrete pad with a wooden uh pavilion with the roof. Um so, 35,000 would be used for materials toward that. So, it's probably the whole project is going to be, you know, less than half of that $350,000 initial. So
would that just come out of the parks and wreck fund or how do you how where's where the where's the money coming to the rest of the that money? So I can't speak minor detail stand at facilities that's more him and Ted on that end of
it and um but speaking to Ted it was just covering materials and the materials would be covered by that and that was what was needed for the actual project as a whole. Right. Again, the the project costs like a dog park costs x amount of
dollars, but you know, some of we got grants for, some we're paying for this one. I mean, to just say we get 35 grand to go do a pavilion without what the real cost is and where that money is coming from, I think leaves the council in a, you know, not a very good
spot to say why is it a good idea to approve it until we know that information. Sure, understandable. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. President. Motion, council vital. Just for discussion purposes. Um, this pavilion will be used for for increased
programming for the recreation department. Um, it'll be used a potential revenue source for, you know, families can can rent it on Saturday for family reunions and those types of things. Um, but it's also for safety. If the if we get one of these summer thunderstorms that come through,
lightning storms that come through and there's kids out there on the softball field, I mean on the soccer field and they have no place to go right now and here comes the lightning storms. This is a safety uh you know a barrier that the kids can be a little bit safe as well. So I think there's many different
reasons why the the city needs this pavilion down there. So I'm strongly in favor of it. Mr. Chair, council, I'll concur with council of Idol. I used to inspect camps, summer camps, and there always was that issue. Where are we going to put people if there's a thunderstorm? So, that's a very good
point. The other point I just like a plug maybe is to the DPW and talking to Ted, it's amazing how they sometimes group together to build structures or fix something. They just all group together within all those divisions. So,
I expect, Mr. Mayor, is this what we're expecting on this project as well? Correct. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. President, so so again, in full transparency, I've got a sheet here that says 35 grand. I don't need any matching money. I don't need anything else to get the project done.
That's not true. So, I don't know how you can approve that without knowing what the cost is or where the money's coming from. My opinion, but finance committee can do what they want. Oh, council. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Um, obviously there there's, you know, right, we have a predicament here with the fact that $35,000 is not going to cover the cost of this whole pavilion, right? We all we all know that. So, for for myself, you know, approving these funds gets us closer to where we need to
be. Um, but obviously there's there's a gap in in funding. Um, you know, I I I hope we wouldn't go forward with with a project that that we don't have, you know, plans to to fund. So, I I'm I'm also at a little bit of a loss. Feel like I'm kind of in between where
everybody is. I'd love to see this project. I think, you know, the idea of it sounds good, but without any concrete plans, um without, you know, an idea of how much this is going to cost, I'm a little uncomfortable accepting this grant, you know, at this given time. Um but now, that's not to say that this
isn't a project I don't want to see happen. Um I just I I fear that maybe we're we're putting the the cart before the horse and we don't have, you know, kind of everything hatched out yet. I mean, may maybe we do maybe maybe we have more today to present, but from what I'm seeing, it doesn't it doesn't
seem like it. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Councelor Brown. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I agree with what councelor Fillo just stated that it there's just too much unknown and the grant amount sounds like it doesn't even
cover half the amount of what it would cost to make the pavilion come to fruition. But I also wonder with um like short staffing and things like that, like would it even be prudent to use our
current um manpower to do this? Would it be during um business hours that it happened? Um or would it be outside of business hours? Like how would they be compensated if that were the case?
So, um, I hesitate to approve it for for those types of reasons. Yeah, understood. I I'm not directly involved with the project, so I apologize for not having all the details. I I do know that um Dan facilities had committed that they can
certainly do this project um with their own forces. It's well within their capability. um as far as the whatever the balance of the materials cost is above the 35 and I I don't even know what that amount is.
It may not be much more than that. Um I can't speak to that exactly so I apologize. Thank Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I may I think we're going to miss an opportunity. We just approved a
$754,000 budget and we're we're not able to find if there's say a few thousand more. I question that. This is for our residents. This is for safety. I will support this 100%. Thank you. Thank you, Council. Motion has been made. I did
second it um to move the conversation uh by listening to other members on the committee. Um motion was made and second it. Uh all in favor? One, two. All opposed. Three. It does not carry chair. Oh, M. Councelor Fel
with the vote to to not carry here. Um, that doesn't mean this is correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Chair. Through you, that doesn't mean this is this has died. We could potentially postpone for more information. Is that correct? It would depend on the expiration date
of the grant. Um, I might refer to President Oing on that. Uh, because like President O did point out as we look through the airmarks, is a position being created? No. Is it matching funds created? No. President O did point out some valuable points, but I'll I'll
revert to President O. So, it's it's okay to go back and say we're going to table this one and ask the mayor for more information because there's no deadline for when funds have to be expended. I'm assuming because there state monies, we got to decide by the end of June. but you don't know what you're approving. So, yeah, the project
looks nice. Well, the budget's going to look nice, too, but you got to know what you're approving. So, I think it's a little not well informed to make a decision to take money for a project you don't know what it's going to cost the city yet. So, if you want to table it, you can make a mo since the first motion
didn't carry, you can now make a motion to table for more information, and I'm sure the mayor will finish up the form with all the information that the council would need to make an informed decision. Thank you, Mr. President. The finance committee's positive uh reinforcement on
that motion to table based on the conversation. Motion has been made to table uh for the pavilion at Galonia Park and $35,000 grant amount. Uh all in favor that carries five to zero. Thank
you, Council Pillo and Council Orum. Next up is the uh procurement of an outreach city vehicle to be used by city hall departments and that airmark grant amount is in the amount of
$50,000 and I guess I will let the mayor speak on this because it's the the vehicle for the department for the Sure. So this is a vehicle that's used by city hall. So the building department as well as board of health are down numerous vehicles. So we threw this in as an
earmark. So, city hall could have an extra vehicle so it wouldn't have to come out of our capital um free cash regarding our capital improvement plan. Um what the question that I have um uh I I understand that that you know the the
use of the vehicle question that I always have with bringing in more vehicles into the fleet of the city uh with the city vehicles is the uh the maintenance cost and how many years down the road the life of the vehicle uh and
uh insurance and all everything that goes into owning a vehicle. So those are my reservations. Um, no different than any other department that we we we scrutinize over when they're adding a a vehicle to the to the fleet. Um, but I will open that up for discussion for the
finance committee. Councilman, Mr. Chair, if I may through to the mayor, what type of vehicle is it going to be? Electric or it'll be gas. Gas. Well, then I agree with our chair that we may have to now look at other expenses such as repairs and so forth. But I would um
request maybe to look at the option of an electrical ve electric vehicle if the repair costs are less. I had the experience of having an electric vehicle when I worked for the town of Ashland 5 years no problems. So again
it's just my suggestion but thank you for your answer Mr. Mayor. Thank you Mr. Chair. Points council councelor Brown. Thank you Mr. Chair. Um, I just had some questions as far as um, you'd mentioned that we're down a
um, a couple of vehicles it sounds like in inspectional service types of places. Um, besides the vehicles utilized by um, you like DPW, police, fire, um, for city
hall employees, how many vehicles do we currently have in operation? I would have to get you that number right or off the top of my head for total. Oh, okay. But I can tell you the border the inspectional services is down three vehicles and board of health is down at
least one. So all of board of health has shared one vehicle and um I believe in special service shares one vehicle as well. So and when you say inspectional services the building department that could be is that also code enforcement
and Okay. Um, and then what about like the the veterans agent, um, conservation officer? Do they also utilize city vehicles right now or I believe conservation does, veteran services does
not. Okay. Um, I was just I was looking for I guess a little more information like the other counselors had mentioned about um like type of vehicle in maintenance. So, um, pending further
discussion, I would also be interested, I'm going to move to, um, table this one as well, just pending some additional information about, um, how many cars we currently have in the fleet and what type of car we might be looking for um,
and what that might look like for running the vehicle and upkeep. Thank you. That's your motion. Motion has been made and motion has been made and um to
uh table the uh outreach city vehicle to be used by the city hall department in the amount of $50,000 grant. Do we have a second? Second. Second has been made. Motion's been made and seconded to approve the $50,000 uh grant. Any
further discussion to to sorry to t Thank you, Mr. President. To table the $50,000 grant. Any further discussion? Council. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, this is historical knowledge before my time, so so you guys might have to help me out. But from my understanding, Mayor Stevens did have a hybrid vehicle during
her administration that was used similarly to what I feel like is in the mayor's letter that it was used by city hall departments as as needed. From my understanding, it was used by, you know, police chief if needed, building, you know, whoever needed a vehicle. It was in the mayor's spot and they they could take it. um you know, for lack of better
words, the keys were in it and you could go. However, I feel that in the grant award, the notice of the grant award that it's very different language than what um is being funded. This would be used as a mobile city hall. So, so I'm I'm in favor of tableabling it tonight mostly because I I feel like there's a
discrepancy in use based on the letter and and and the grant award. So, I just kind of I would like to see when when we come back kind of what is the scope of this vehicle and what's it what is its use going to be? Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Good point, Council Fel. No further discussion. Motion has
been made and seconded to table the $50,000 grant in the form of an airmark for the uh vehicle to be used by city hall department. All in favor? That carries 5 to zero as tabled. Next up is support the
construction of a dog park at Galoney Park for $35,000. Council Vital. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Gentlemen, isn't the dog park done? Yes. So, councelor, it's it's Yes, the
construction is done. Um, I'm going to take a second to because I don't get the opportunity too much to give another shout out to the engineering staff. So, um, we happen to be doing this dog park project at the same time as two of our neighboring towns. And just uh kind of
on the side following those two projects, the construction the total costs were between 500 and 700,000 for each of their dog parks, including about close to 100,000 in design and construction oversight. Um which we did
all the design and construction oversight in house with the engineering and and capital um projects management staff. Um, and so we put a project out to bid for the bid. The low bid came in at just under
200,000. We did pull a few things like the amenities like the some of the the benches, picnic table, the leash posts, um the concrete wheel stops for the parking area. um we pulled those out of
the bid, but that was um if you recall 150,000 in ARPA funding and then um the balance of that 197 was from the uh parks revolving account. So we did pull some some of the final amenities out of that project. So, that's what this um
grant would fund. It's kind of like those finishing uh amenities that go inside the park, but it's um the construction is done. It's wonderful. I mean, I'm noticing the one that North Bro's building down by Wesley Water Plant Boundary Street and
even though it's out in the middle of nowhere, um it's, you know, ours is going to be significantly better than than theirs in my opinion. So, kudos to your staff for putting that in. Once we get the the dog park association together, I think it's going to be a great asset for the city. Right.
Council M. Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion for all my friends out there to approve. Motion is my dog friends. Motion has been made uh to approve the uh grant in the form of airs in the
amount of $35,000 uh for the dog park at Galoney Park. Uh do I hear a second? Second. Motion was made and seconded to appro approve. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor?
That carries five to zero. Thank you. Thank you. Next up is a replacement of the boiler at city hall um for $25,000. And this one is uh I guess interesting because we we approved money earlier for
what 120,000. Was that for the Walker bill? That was for the Walker building. So I'll try to speak for Ted on this one too. Um correct. You approved 120,000 for the Walker Walker building boilers. And my understanding is that that project
um had some overruns and I think and Mark can chime in if I miss anything but I think during that uh the the other boiler failed during that or some it became an emergency and it became an overrun of that 120,000. So, the thought
at this time is to use this 25,000 instead of toward um the project for the boilers here at city hall to help finish that Walker building boiler project. Um the boilers at city hall will be
continue to be on the capital plan for this building. Which makes that makes sense. Yeah. Thank you, city engineerio. Any questions for the finance team? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion. Motion to approve. Motion been motion
has been made and seconded to approve the uh the grant in the form of earmarks in the amount of $25,000 uh for replacement of the boiler at city hall. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? That carries 5 to
zero. Next up is funding for the Marbor Economic Development Corporation shuttle service in the amount of $200,000 which is I'm hearing very popular and it's it's nice to to be able to have access to these funds for this
for the transportation. Um I will open that up for any discussion from the finest council or I'm glad it's being it's successful. Well, I'm just curious how the rider rate has gone up maybe over the year, past years. So, we have about 12 to 15 riders that take it. So,
it closes the last quarter mile of the last mile to the commuter rail. So, has three different stops um at three different times. So, it just circles in the morning and the afternoon commute. And um how many how many times does it go back to the train state the commuter
rail? I believe the schedule goes three different three different times. Correct. Is it morning, noon, afternoon? Morning and in the evening schedule shift. Yeah. Before work, after work. Okay. Thank you, Council Council Vital. Thank you, Mr.
Chair. This is to expand the program. Where is the expansion going to take place? It is not to expand the program. It's just to continue the program. Oh, it's just to continue it. Okay. This is done. It should be Oh, expended. Never mind. I stand corrected. Thank you, Mr.
Chair. Thank you, Council Vital. Uh, Council Fill. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I move to approve uh the grant. Um, I see the shuttle all the time. When I go into Boston, I usually take the commuter around. And, um, to your point, it's usually the whenever the express trains
run, so 4:00 is usually an express train out. The shuttle's always there to get people. And, um, very much enjoy seeing the shuttle back and forth, it's usually packed. And one of these days, I'm going to have to give it a shot. So, I appreciate it. And, uh, like I said, move to approve the grant. Motion has been made and seconded to approve the
grants in the form of air marks in the amount of $200,000 to fund the Marbor Economic Development Corporation shuttle service in the amount of $200,000. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor?
That carries 5 to zero. Thank you. Next up. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Engineer. Um, next up is order number 25-1009405. Communication from the mayor. Transfer of
$63,600 from reserve for salaries to various accounts for salary and sick leave buyback for the mayor's office and police department. And I'll begin by reading the letter submitted by the mayor. Honorable President Oing and counselors, uh, enclosed for your review
and approval is a transfer request in the amount of $63,600 from reserve for salary line item to the following salary line items. One, chief of staff line item to cover exit payout of the prior chief of staff. Two, executive administrative to fund
the position through the end of the fiscal year. and three, police sick leave buyback to cover the payout of a retiring employee of the police department. Uh, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Jay Christian Dumis
mayor. Right. Good evening once again, Mr. Mayor. I will um I don't know if you have any any comments on this. Um, I will open it up if the if the finance committee head uh council Brown. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I
was just wondering about the line item to cover the exit payout. Um, the item is for $10,200. I was wondering is that for a reimbursement or is it like a severance
type of pay? Vacation and sick time payout. Thank you, Mr. President. So how many vacation days? There was two weeks per year. So
5, 10, 15, 20 days. He used one week for last year, one week this year, and then he utilized all his personal days, which was another week for each. So do you sign time sheets for your staff? I do.
You do now or you do? I I review the time sheets. Correct. I get a report of time sheets. Well, I get a report, but I got I have physically have to sign a time sheet. No, I do not sign. It's all electronic. I do not sign. No further questions. Thank you, Mr.
President. Motion to approve. Motion's been made and uh I will second that to approve order number 25-1009405 transfer $63,600 reserve for salaries to various accounts for salary and sick leave
buyback for the mayor's office and police department any further discussion seeing none all in favor that carries 520 Mr. Chair, is it time to motion to adjurnn? I will I will motion to
adjurnn. Motion be made and seconded to adjourn. All in favor? We are adjourned at Thank you. 8:01 p.m. Thank you.