--------- Good evening and welcome to the September 29th meeting of the appointments subcommittee. Will we all rise and salute the flag, please? Thank you. Uh tonight we have eight appointments and reappointments. Um so we're going to start with whoever is
here. Um which Oh, excuse me. Sorry. Um can we roll call the members, please? my computer. Oh, okay. roll call of the members of the appointment subcommittee. Councelor Go Sua here. Here here. Councelor Hass
here. Here. Councelor Harmo is absent. Councelor Nobasellski here. Here. And chairwoman McKenna here. Here. Quorum is present. So tonight we have eight appointments and reappoints. Uh and we're going to call up the people that are here first.
So um the first candidate is Michael Tucker um to the zoning board of appeals. Can you come up? This is a reappoint. Good evening. Could you state your name and address?
Michael Tucker 9 Street. Thank you. And Michael, you've been on this committee for a long time. what 25 years. Yes. Yes. I remember you telling me that. Can you just tell me a little bit about what you've done uh for the city? Um that was um positive.
Well, most of the development that's has gone on in 25 years. I started at the planning board and then was asked by Mayor Ambassino to go to the board of appeals. Um, in my time there's been probably a thousand
different meetings that were attended. Um, a lot of the development from the beach as well as Northre took place as well as Rose Quarry. Thank you very much.
And um now that you're reappointed again for another two years or three years, uh what are you going to bring to the table? The same of always. Okay. Uh would any of the counselors like to speak? Council has. Thank you, Mr. Chairwoman. Mr. Tucker,
congratulations. Um I know you've seen a ton the last 25 years. Uh you've seen the city go through a number of changes. um you seem very well-versed in the material and the um the subject matter and I think last week was the first time
I worked kind of closely with you and and got to hear what how you thought you know regarding a specific issue but congratulations and is it a fiveyear I think it's a fiveyear term congratulations on another five years and that'll bring you up to 30 thanks
thank you any other counselors is councelor Garina Suaya. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mike, I want to say thank you for what you bring to the table. You have been a
great person to be the chairperson of um the committee because I think you're fair. I think you listen to both sides and you just don't make a decision without thinking. And it's very very important
when we are you have to make such a vote that will impede upon a lot of people or help a lot of people and it's just you're doing you're doing a fantastic job and I would be honored to make sure that you have another five years.
Thank you councelor Novasoski. Thank you Madame Chair U. Michael. You know, it's we we've been together for a long time and I can say you're very fair. You listen to both sides of every
story and you make your decision uh appropriately and I want to thank you for all your work and um you're caring for the city because that's what that's what it's all about. Thank you very much. And I want to thank you and uh continue
to work hard for us and keep us honest. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Uh councelor Councelor Zamutoo. Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the uh committee. Anthony Zambbudo, 87 High
Street. You know, I'm not on this committee, but I made it a point to be here for 5:00 to speak in favor of Michael Tucker. Now, Michael's been around as long as me, and uh he does this because he cares about the city.
That's why I keep running for office because I care about the city. But he is a person and my colleague said it. He listens to both sides. But he's a person of utmost integrity. I I can't thank him enough for wanting to continue to serve
on this board because it's such an important board to the city and I'm just grateful that Michael Tucker is is willing to serve uh for another whatever the five-year appointment or whatever appointment it is. But uh that's why I'm here early for your committee and uh I'm
in favor obviously. Thank you. Uh permission to speak from the chair please. Thank you. Um Michael, I just want to say thank you um as a ward counselor uh since since I got on 10 years ago. You've been calling me if some
development has gone into my ward and ask me what I thought about it, if I didn't like it. I gave you the he asked me the reasons why and and I told you and there were things that both of us agreed that wasn't good for the ward ward one. So I just want to thank you
for being calling me all the time and asking me what my opinion is. Thank you very much. Thank you. All in favor? All opposed. So ordered. Next item is a communication from the
mayor relative to the reappoint of Peggy Pratt to the zoning board of appeals. Is Peggy here? No, she's not here. Okay. Next up is communication from the mayor relative to the reappoint of Lorie Manzo
to the affordable housing trust fund board. Lori can pull that down, too. Okay. Lori, could you state your name and address for the record, please? Yep. Lori Manzo, 101 Kulage Street. And Lori, you've been um you're being
reappointed, so you've been on this committee for how long now? Uh a little over a year. Okay. And what have you brought to the table? I tend to voice my opinions stronger when it comes to veterans
and their needs along with the elderly and their needs. Uh we just started a program for the senior home repair um to help seniors stay in their homes instead of having to go to some type of
um home. Um I I fought very hard for that. So, um, I also fight for the lower income families that are in
our city because a lot of them do not have a safe, stable home. And we're working on programs to help not only homeowners, but um, rental assistance programs and stuff like that,
which I I find necessary. Thank you. Any counselors? Councelor H. Thank you, Mr. Chairwoman. Larry, congratulations. I know you're fairly new to the um to the committee, but congratulations. I got to know you and your family the last couple years
with the um with the election two years ago, but always a pleasure to see you. You always you're always very nice and um thank you for all your hard work with the senior with the senior home repair. Yes. Um that's very important. As you know, a lot of seniors are faced with the task
of trying to keep up with their houses and a lot of them are forced to sell when they don't want to sell. Um, a lot a lot of seniors do downsize, but for the seniors that would like to stay in their homes, that's that's huge. Thank you. Thank you for your work on that and keep up the good work.
Thank you so much. Thank you, Council Councelor Karina Slaya. Thank you, Madam Chair. Lori, thank you for serving. Thank you for caring about this community as much as you do. And I've gotten to know your family and I absolutely adore your
family. And I know Rivier is number one in your lives and you'll do whatever it takes to help anybody who needs assistance, housing assistance. And thank you. Do a nice job just like you're doing. Continue it. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you, Council Council Novasowski. Thank you, Lori. you know, my fellow counselors said a lot and I agree with them a thousand%. But I do want to thank you for putting in the time that you that has to be put into this. A lot of
people don't want to volunteer per se and uh it's very difficult, you know, to find the time to do it and make the meetings and, you know, put your two cents in where you want to be put in. So, I want to thank you for that and congratulate you on everything else.
Thank you. Thank you, councel. And I just want to say um just continue to do a good job for the city. Thank you. Absolutely. Thank you so much. All in favor? All oppose. So ordered.
[Applause] Next is a communication from the mayor relative to the reappoint of Ano Oiki to the affordable housing trust fund board. And I don't see Ano here. So, we're going to move to the next
communication from the mayor relative to the reappoint of Karu Pic to the human rights commission. And I don't see Karu here. It's uh mandatory that um these reappointments and appointments come to these meetings. It's very important. Um and we do have
uh something on the books that says if you don't come unless you have a good excuse that you know you'll be terminated. So, um, and I mean there's a lot of people that are not here. So, um, so Karu is not here. Can we move on to
the next one? Communication from the mayor relative to the reappoint of Chief Cullen to the Human Rights Commission. So, I have spoken to uh Chief Cullen and he couldn't make it tonight, but I'm going to put him through. Um,
so is that um okay with everybody? Does anybody want to speak on Chief Cullen's position? No. Okay. Thank you. All in favor? All opposed? So ordered. Communication from the mayor relative to
the reappoint of Chief Maria Levida to the human rights commission and I spoke with uh Chief Levita and she couldn't make it either. So I'm just going to put her through tonight. We're going to put her through it. Do we have any Everybody's fine with that? Okay.
All in favor? All oppose? So ordered communication from the mayor relative to the reappoint of Vivana Katano to the board of health. I don't see Viviana here. So um
we'll just we'll just table everything and um there's no f further business. Thank you all. Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to the legislative affairs subcommittee meeting. Please join me in a salute to
the flag. Roll call of the members. Councelor Gina SA present. Here. Councelor H here. Here. Councelor Kelly here. Here. Councelor McKenna here. Here. And chairman Argenzio here. Here. forum is present. One item on tonight's agenda. Uh this is a motion
presented by councelor Cogleandro relative to an act permitting the city of Rivera to establish penalties and leans for noise ordinance violations. Council Kleandro. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good evening. Anthony Cogandro, W 3 city councelor. Um
this motion was filed so that we can change the way that we fine for noise complaints. Um, currently it's under 21D. Really has no teeth. Uh, when the tickets get submitted, they kind of go nowhere. Uh, and they're not enforced uh
after it leaves the city. What this will do is keep it within the city. And we're also, thanks to uh, Councelor Novaski, he's filing some support motions for this uh, so that we can allow the police department to fine under 40U as well as
uh, get some decibel readers inside of the all of the squad cars. So, I think everybody in here can agree that we do have responsible people in the city that play their music or make noise, have parties, but at a certain time they they tone it down for every one of those.
Seems like we have somebody who doesn't uh adhere to that or respect their neighbors. So, with that said, this will hopefully be the beginning of a solution to that. Thank you. Thank you, councelor. Any counselors wishing to speak?
Councelor Garina Suire, excuse me. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I think this noise ordinance will enhance quality of life that um by creating a more peaceful environment for the residents and um it's setting a clear expectation of what
the expected noise level will be. Thank you, Council Novaski. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ira Novaski, 53 Deon Street, W 2 counselor. Um members of the committee, uh I know I'm glad the
council put this motion in and uh it is important, you know, because right now we have no way to enforce this and when we do write something up, it goes to Chelsea court and they just throw it out. So, I think
putting this under 40U, you know, when it goes through the through the state house, we'll be able to handle it inhouse and we'll be able to keep people aware of what what they're doing and that they're going to have to pay for
it. And, uh, as mentioned, uh, I put a motion in tonight and I have spoken to Chief Levita and she's totally uh, in favor of allowing the Rever police to enforce a 40U when it comes up. and they'll have their own 40U tickets and
they'll also have hopefully have decibel readers in each cruiser to help them enforce that noise ordinance. So, thank you and um I'm for this 100%. Thank you, Council Kelly.
Thank you. Um just is this going to be the fines in terms of um will this be discretionary on the part of the police in terms of whether it's a first offense or whether it's a you know two 2 p.m. in the afternoon or midnight or is there
going to be any different you know any differences between the offenses or um and will it be discretionary? Council Gilland. Thank you Mr. Chairman through to councelor Kelly. um the ordinance itself or the finding structure is not changing. We're just simply changing the
way that we are finding them. And you heard the rest. That's it. Thank you. Mr. Wells. Thank you, counselors. Michael Wells, uh director of inspectional services and health agent for the city of Reier. Um
as the gatekeeper of 40U, uh my department oversees for the 40U process. um in the the the process throughout the year um as far as unpaid violations being applied to tax bills and so and so forth. So um I would just kindly request
you know that we work closely with the police department. Any violations or any fines to be issued come as a transferral to ISD um as the gatekeeper in the issuance of those fines would be come from ISD. So, um, it's a big
responsibility. You know, 40U is the state sanitary code. Um, and you know, it get special legislation. It's still going to come through ISD, uh, for those fines to be issued. So, I just ask that, you know, we work closely with the police department. Any fines that are issued comes as a transfer. We've done that in the past with with certain
things and it's where under Chief Callahan and it did work out great. So, um, just kindly ask that we we work together. Uh, any fines that are issued, uh, will will come through ISD and then we'll see that process. um to the end. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Uh Mr. Wells. Anyone else wishing to speak? Councelor Hass. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um full I'm in full support of this. This is one of the issues I hear the most um from residents regarding
house parties or loud cars sitting idle outside their in quiet neighborhoods, outside their houses. But full support of this and I'm just curious if Mr. Wells could come up again. And I just had a question for him. Mike, I missed I may have missed that a little bit. When you said you worked
with um the former chief, was that just on the transfer of the fines or was that Yeah, so they've had some problem properties that they they you know, that were going to be issued some fines in the past. Um so, you know, they they sent us the copy of the police report so we could attach those to the violations
as well. Um, a lot of times, you know, the these absentee landlords, um, they don't even know what's happening at their properties. So, you know, they get a letter from us and they get a fine and then, you know, it gets resolved pretty quickly, um, for the majority of the time, um, you know, cuz they're they're
kind of upset that this is happening at their property and they don't not even aware that's happening at the, you know, the we hours of the morning as well. So, I just want to reiterate, too, a a 40U fine is attached to a property. So, councelor, you you mentioned, you know, a car being outside of somebody's house.
That's not going to fall under 40U, you know, because we're not going to find the person that the car is in front of their house, you know. So, the the police can attach a fine to somebody's driver's license, you know, you give them their license or registration, then it gets attached to a person. 40U is
attached to a property. Um, so I can't find a business. I can't find a um a person. We're finding a property. Um, so e even if a tenant is doing something that isn't right, a fine goes to the property owner. Um, same thing with a
business. If we're we're in the process of finding a business, um, we're we're actually finding the property owner. Um, not necessarily the business itself. You know, any any land uh, any property owner, I'm sorry, any business owner, any tenant, they can pick up and go. A property is not going anywhere. So
that's why it's attached to a property, not a person. So it's still in your in your opinion it's still very effective though because it hits the the I think for the house parties it would be effective not necessarily for a loud vehicle you know driving down the street that's not going to work for that. No.
All right. Thanks Michael. Okay. Thank you. Any further discussion? Madame clerk if you could call the role please. Shall the legislative affairs subcommittee offer a favorable recommendation to the full city council to approve the special legislation?
Councelor Gino SA. Yes. Yes. Councelor H. Yes. Yes. Councelor Kelly. Yes. Yes. Councelor McKenna. Yes. Yes. And Chairman Argenzio. Yes. Yes. The special act has received a favorable recommendation. No further business. Chairman.
Meeting is adjourned. Thank you. [Applause] Part: 2
Good evening. Welcome to the Monday, September 29th, 2025 city council meeting. Please stand to salute the >> flag 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. >> Roll of the members. Councelor Aenzio >> here. >> Here. Councelor Kogandro >> here. >> Here. Councelor Janino >> here. >> Here. Councelor Go SA >> here. >> Here. Councelor Hass >> here. >> Here. Councelor Harmo is absent.
Councelor Kelly >> here. >> Here. Councelor McKenna >> here. >> Here. Councelor Novasellski >> here. >> Here. Council Zamutoo >> absent. And council president Sylvestri >> here. >> Here. Corm is present. >> Approval of the journal of the regular meeting of September 8th.
>> So move. >> All in favor? All opposed? >> So ordered. Calendar item number three, the city council will present Irma Autoulo with a certificate of commendation in recognition in celebration of her 90th birthday.
Happy 90th birthday. Oop, sorry. I mean 30th birthday, >> Irma. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> 90 years is an amazing milestone. And throughout those years, Irma has shown so much kindness, generosity, and
dedication to our community. From organizing botchi games to giving back through Irma's boutique to the wonderful coffee hours she hosts at her home, she has truly touched many, many lives.
Irma, we celebrate not just your birthday, but the wonderful person that you are. >> Wow. Thank you. So today we give you our certificate of commendation and it states in acknowledgement and recognition of a
milestone 90th birthday which was celebrated on August 4th, 1935. Special recognition is hereby accorded to Irma Achhatulo. The city council honors and celebrates your milestone achievement as testament to a life
filled with love, dedication, and wisdom. Your life stands as a legacy of resilience, cherished memories, and countless contributions to your family, friends, and community. Further, the city council offers its warmest congratulations and sends its best
wishes for continued health, happiness, and many more joyful years ahead. The certificate of commendation is presented by the city council of the city of Rivier, Massachusetts on behalf of its citizens this 29th day of September in
the year of our Lord 2025 and of the independence of the United States of America the 249th. Congratulations. Thank you. >> Thank you all. >> Council come up. the birthday that I
didn't want anyone to know about. >> Take a picture. >> Okay. No one watches our council. >> We'll do this. Thank you. >> Congratulations. We love you. >> Thank you one and all. I'm speechless and overwhelmed.
>> Would you like to speak? I just want to say that I got to know Irma from my time at the River Senior Center. And she is such an inspiration to to the seniors and um to the general public and all residents. She's so involved. She's so dedicated like
councelor SA said whether it was through Irma's boutique or the botchi league at the senior center. She's so involved and um it was a pleasure to get to know her at the senior center and to see what she can do behind the scenes. Thank you. >> Wow. >> Happy birthday, Arma.
>> Thank you. >> For someone who is never lost for words, I'm certainly overwhelmed. And all I can say is thank you one and all. This is quite a day and quite a month. And as I said again for the birthday that I
didn't want anyone to know about I reached this milestone that as our doctors tell us be grateful you made it >> to this age also. So thank you again one and all. >> Beautiful.
calendar item number four. Michael Wells, director of municipal inspections, will appear before the city council to discuss the rooming house ordinance and the methods used to identify illegal rooming houses and enforcement procedures. >> Mr. Wells. Lewis.
>> Good evening, counclers. Michael Wells, director of municipal inspections, city of Rivier, joined by building commissioner Lewis Caragaro and uh Vincent Arenzio from our short-term rental office. Um I know there has been some discussion recently in regarding uh
to enforcement of rooming houses. Um does fall under building and I will turn it over right now to uh building commissioner Cavaro. Lewis Cavaniaro, building commissioner again. Um, so Roman houses are very disruptive to
the neighborhood. They're very noisy. They draw a lot of people to one house. They're very loud. Um, but it's it's it's difficult for us to enforce. Um, if we get a complaint and
we have to send out letters, as you all know, letter one, letter two, letter three, it takes it could take six month 6 months before we actually get into the house. Um, that's if they let us into the house. If not, we have to get a warrant
to get in. And then once you're in the house, it's hard to it's hard to figure out if people are related or not, um you can't ask someone for a document that shows
relation like if they're cousins or a son or a mother. Um, so but we do write them up and we do find them. But from my understanding is
if everybody's on the same lease then we can't then that's okay. Then that's they're allowed to live there even though they're not related. Um, but we do find them and um, we find them under 21D, which as you
guys know is doesn't really have any teeth. We used to do 40U, but from my understanding is that um, we're not allowed to do 40U anymore, but I'm hearing that we can go back to 40U. Um,
and right now with the new um, Airbnb short-term rental office, they have a system that can um, identify online ads. So, we're working on a way to find just based off the ad so we don't have to get
into the house. I don't know you want to say anything. >> Sure. Hello, Vincent Argenzio, short-term rental office. So, up to this point, our software mainly focused on rentals that
were 30 days or less short-term in the city. And our software was programmed to only identify within that range. So on occasion what would meet the definition of a rooming house so more than three four unrelated persons
in a rental house a apartment building that were renting rooms not on the same lease not renting the entire unit but just a section of that one unit. we would identify them and take enforcement action because as I'm sure everyone's
aware under the short-term rental ordinance, you cannot rent a room. You need to rent the entire unit. So, we have identified a handful of them in the past that were renting short-term and taken enforcement through the uh short-term rental ordinance. Leading up
to this, knowing that we were going to have this discussion, I did speak with our software company about getting a little peak, changing our parameters to the software, uh, to see if we could expand to month-to-month and long-term rentals, and see if we could then sort
and try to find listings that were renting a bedroom or a partial unit to multiple parties, not one group of individuals together that, like Lewis said, would be on the same lease. So individual arrangements for each person
in a partial unit. We have up to this point, it's been about a week, we have been able to identify some of them. Again, no one knows how many rooming houses there are in the city. So maybe we're seeing all them. Maybe we're seeing a handful of them. Maybe we're
seeing a good amount of them. Uh after scanning for about a week, we have identified what could be 30. roughly between 20 and 30 could meet the definition of a rooming house. Uh again, this is not what the software was
originally designed for, but we have started working with the company tweaking it to see if we could apply it at a larger scale to other rentals, uh specifically what would meet the definition of a rooming house. And now that it has been combing listings,
trying to match images to uh properties, we have been getting some of them. Again, how many there are in the city at this point, no one really knows the amount, but we are we have had the ability to identify some of them up to
this point. >> Council McKenna. >> Thank you, uh, Mr. President. Um, so I know you all know that I have a rooming house next door to me. I have 31 people living in a single family house with about uh eight cars.
um you one of I think it was Lewis Lewis said that uh you can't if there's a lease then you can't um you know break the lease uh you know you can't so but if if the lease say you have uh five
members of the same family in there and you have all their licenses okay and they're on the lease but you have other people just living in the rooms with no leases and no licenses I mean how do How do you catch them? So, I have a family
next to me. Uh there's uh probably uh I don't know, maybe six or seven. They're all related, but then I have uh 20 other people living there without the they walk to the tea. They don't have licenses. They don't have cars. They don't have anything, but they're living
in the uh the you know, the house. So, I mean, how do you how do you go about saying, "Okay, they're on the lease, but what about the other people that aren't?" >> If if there's other people that aren't on the lease, we we write them up. >> How do you know? >> When I when I went to the Yeah. that
house, there was only We go during the day. No one's in the house. I'm looking at beds. There's one bed in every bedroom. If I see more beds, I'll write that up. And if I see people that aren't on the lease, I'll write it up. But if
they come in after I'm not there, we can go back. If there's another complaint, but it's it's hard to enforce. >> The be the day before you come in, people are running out with their their mattresses. And that's a fact. And I have pictures of it. Uh and when you
leave and inspect the houses, guess what? They come back. after you after you inspect, they come back and they're they're doing the same thing that they did. Um the other thing I'd like to know is uh does um the uh rooming houses have to be owner occupied?
>> No. >> Okay. And one >> Yes. Roman houses, they're not allowed except in certain zones. Um so that's basically your that house is an apartment that's being leased out. It's
not considered a Roman house unless they're renting out rooms. But if they're all under one lease, it's it's considered an apartment. >> So, you said you knew about 30 houses that are roaming houses. How do we stop them? >> If >> you know, I mean, the guy next door to
me got fined $67,000 because he had a he had locks on every single uh room that he had. He put the kitchen downstairs in the cellar and he took the kitchen outside out of the second floor of the the first floor and now he's got bedrooms on every single
floor. >> It's it's just it's crazy. >> It's hard. It's hard to enforce, but with with the new system, if it's online, we can go after them that way. Um, maybe we can try getting into the houses
a little bit faster if if there's a way to get in faster. But >> And is there an ordinance or is that a law that you have to wait 30 days before you go into a house? Because if it's an ordinance, we can change it. >> I don't believe it's an ordinance. >> Okay. So, is it a law?
>> I believe it's a law. >> Okay. >> But I'm not I'm not sure. That's that's how it was it was set up for those letters to go out within certain times. >> So if it is an ordinance, can we if and we change it, would that help you?
>> Maybe we I have to we have to discuss it with the lawyers and see what they say cuz if if they if the owners don't let us in the house, then it has to go to Chelsea District Court to get a warrant. And usually they give them, but I'm not sure how much what the legality of that
is and how much time we have to give them. >> Thank you, Lewis. >> Council, guys, >> ju just to piggy back off what what you were saying as far as um you know, when we go for enforcement, everything's gone. It's hard it's hard to identify. Same thing happens with illegal
apartments. you know, we have properties with the same illegal apartments been torn out three, four different times, you know, so it it goes to to to that road too where, you know, it's not just the rooming house and renting of rooms. It's it's the illegal apartments as well that, you
know, um same house has had the same illegal apartment torn out four different times. So, you know, when as soon as we're gone, it's hard for us to enforce what happens after we leave. And I just have to say uh I commend you guys uh because I remember when this first
started with the Airbnbs we had 250 in uh I know just in Beachmont we had I think 125 or whatever I think. What are we down to now with the software that we purchased 80 >> in in the entire city in Beachmont it's about 20 >> 20.
>> So sorry in in the entire city it's around 80. It varies from day to day but it's around that number. in Beachmont. It's at its highest it's around 20 and the lowest seasonally that are active it's about 15. >> Well, that's an excellent job. I thank you all three of you. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor. Counselor Aenzio. >> Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, Mr. Cavanaro, Mr. Wells, and Mr. Aenzio. I know you have a very busy department and and u uh you do an extremely great job. Um the enforcement right now as I
understand it it's it's a system of four letters 30 days 30 30 and then a final letter goes out. >> Yeah it's it's three letters. >> Okay. So if we were to move to 40U and at a minimum if this software can
pick up people that are advertising uh they essentially have I guess shot themselves in the foot. They they're advertising these rooms. So, you could um and correct me if I'm wrong, do it as the same as short-term rental. Go right
there, put a cease and desist, start finding, and at least you would be um capturing the ones that are actively advertising. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, uh, would you suggest that we
go to, uh, a 40U and then at least we'll be able to keep it in house and, uh, we don't have to go through the court system? >> Yes. I I think 40U is is way better than 21D. We used to do 40U and then we found out that we couldn't do it anymore,
>> but now I'm hearing that we can we can go back. So, >> okay. >> I would like it to be under 40U. >> Okay. And um even the fining system, if we're unsure and and you send out send out a fine, then the onus would be on
the property owner to come appeal it. They could come in, explain themselves. So if they're family members, they can give you proof of that and you could uh get get uh get away with the ticket. uh otherwise so that would
put the onus on the property owner rather than on ISD to keep sending letters, sending letters, getting search warrants. >> I I agree. But then you're writing a ticket with kind of no evidence kind of.
>> But you have a you have a complaint. I don't know if we could write a ticket. Well, if if say you sent a ticket and they didn't answer in 30 days, then send a violation because they didn't answer. >> I I would be in favor of that definitely
because the Roman houses are definitely they're disruptive to the neighbor, >> right? I know that seems to be the issue of the day and as I hear from residents that's during the campaign, you walk around and people start pointing there's 30 people there, there's 20 people there. So, I think moving to 40U,
uh, certainly would expedite things and I think put you in a better position instead of being tediously sending out all these letters, uh, you know, to no avail. >> Yes, I I agree. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Councel Kelly. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you all
for being here tonight and taking the time to to answer questions and give us some information. Um, I want to say upfront, I know that your the job that you have to do this, it must be frustrating at times because I think you have some obstacles in front of you that
maybe prevent you from doing things the way that you would like to do them. Um, so I'm in favor to try to get anything in place that would help you do your job more effectively. Um, but that being the case, I did receive a complaint. It was very disheartening. Um, a woman, a
resident did say that she tried to call and tried to report one of these rooming houses and unfortunately she was told there's nothing we can do about it. And so then she called me and said, "What do you mean there's nothing, you know, they can do about it?" And I said, "Well, we're going to have the discussion. I'll try to find out." So, what advice or
what recommendations can you make um for residents if they want to report these? How should they go about doing so? What department should they contact? and any information you could give in that regard would be great. Thank you. >> I mean, I'm not I'm not sure who they
talk to, but usually if people complain, we we send the letter out right away. No questions asked. I mean, it doesn't even have they don't even have to state their name, but um we don't take all the complaints. They they go through 311. So, I'm not sure how they're handling
that. So, if she didn't go through 311, would it be the recommendation to call the building department or the short-term rental office or what what or should they call 311? Is your your recommendation that they should start there with 311? >> We usually send all the complaints to 311 on
>> record. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Council Gino. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you all three for coming. Um, you know that I'm dealing with a lot of that in Ward 5. Um, especially that situation
that we had on Wadssworth. Um, my problem with when it's reported, there's a letter that goes out and when that letter goes out, it basically says, I'm going to come and inspect the the
premises. So, when you send them a letter stating that you're going out there to inspect the premises, what happens is that night before they're pulling all the mattresses out of the house, as you saw what happened on Wadssworth. So, the first time you guys went in there, there was only what, six
bedrooms or whatever it was. And then the second time we went in there, there was 12. So, it it it's I think there's going to be a different way for people to report it in a different way. Um maybe what council McKenna said, put it
in changing the ordinance so you guys have the backing that you need to go in there and do what you have to do to stop it because it's getting to a point right now that they're taking control and they're it's just too much. It's too much. People don't know like councelor
Kelly said people don't know who to complain to. And when they do complain it it goes it sometimes falls on deaf. they do go to the counselors and then when we take control of it, it's it's still we can't do what we want to do.
So, I think we as a council in general has to think of a a new ordinance to help you guys do your job because I know you you work diligently to get this done. I mean, I call Vincent constantly, I call you constantly, and I call Michael constantly and and you guys are
right on top of it. But again, your hands are tied. So maybe it is time for us to look at an ordinance change to to help you do your job better. And thank you so much for being here and thank you for being as digilant as you are.
>> Thank you, Councelor Councel Zambo. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, thank you guys for being here tonight, but I'll tell you, I wouldn't want either one of you's jobs because it's it's it's an impossible task. It really is. and
and it's disheartening especially from the people I hear from that, you know, are living next to one of these houses. It's just can't give an an honest answer. Now, we're talking about ordinances and stuff and we got to be careful that we're not skirting the law
with something we make up here. So, I mean, whatever we do, we have to have strong legal advice on and but it it would be helpful if we could do something that is a little more effective than giving them a notice that we're coming to inspect so they can
empty the place out and and you know, then we're going to hear from the neighbor the next day. They're back. You know, it's it's just it really is disheartening. And I don't envy you for having this job. I know you got a lot of other duties to do, but this is one
that's a it's a tough one. And uh thanks for the thanks for the effort. >> I can assure you it was just as frustrating. >> Oh, sorry, Mike. Mike. Um I said I I you know, it's just as frustrating for us um and our department as it is for the
residents that you know have to endure this. and as far as the counselors haven't taken those complaints as well. So, you know, yes, we're an enforcing agency. Our department, um we're not the police, you know, we're not the fire department. I tell people that, you know, you call 911, they're going to show up to your house right away. You're going to get an instant result. Um
unfortunately, we don't get instant results. And I know I say that a lot, but it's the fact, you know, we some property owners, you send them a letter, you get the call the very next day. um you some property owners we have to go through that whole pro, you know, letter after letter after letter, you know, to
to threaten them with a search warrant to come into their property. So, um it is frustrating. I agree. Um but eventually we get a result, you know, it's just not as instantaneous as we would all like to see. >> Thank you, Council Green.
>> Thank you for the leeway. I have a um a question. Do you think that if we if if you check to see if the utilities spike, if that's a way like an indicator to see
if if it would be used as a rooming house or absentee landlords? >> I mean, I I don't think so. I mean, it's it's tough because every house can fit a certain amount of people by law, by code.
So, just because their water's going up, I don't know if we could find >> based off what if it's quadrupling. >> I don't know. We still have to get in there to see if if they're renting out rooms because they could still legally have so many people for that house.
>> But would that be an indication that you could >> to check it? >> Check it. >> Yeah, maybe. Hey, and if any anything that we can come up with to >> I'm just trying to figure out a way to help to to get this come into fruition here and and actually stop
>> these rooming houses. >> Anything that we can do, I'm I'm for if we can throw out a fine and put the onus on them to to do something, I'm all for it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other city councilors? >> Okay, gentlemen. Thank you very much.
Appreciate >> President. >> Yes. I'd like to introduce a motion that these housing violations, certificates of fitness be moved to 40U. Um I know we'll have to go to um uh subcommittee, but we can further discuss it. It seems
that no matter what we do, uh going 40U will expedite things and make things easier. Uh I know other surrounding cities and towns uh use 40U. Um so that at least can be a basis and as Mr.
Jenzio said if if this software has identified some people that are advertising, we could once this is uh makes it through the process, we could immediately start um finding them and shutting them down. So, at least we're moving forward and we're not spinning
our wheels. >> Are we sure we can use for you? >> I I know other cities, am I correct in saying other cities and towns? I think it's something we should, you know, look further into with our attorneys just to >> Okay. Just >> to ensure that we can do it properly.
>> Okay. So, if we move it to subcommittee, the attorneys can come and >> Okay. >> Absolutely. >> Is that okay? >> Yep. >> So, I'd like to introduce that motion. >> Madame clerk. >> It would be uh councelor Jenzio the much like the same thing that was just in
your legislative affairs subcommittee. You would be deleting the words noise ordinance and replacing it with rooming house ordinance. >> Yes. And also certificates of fitness. I we can might as well put that in there, too. Any any housing code violation. Is
that appropriate? >> Okay. Okay. Do you want to have instead of doing that have the city solicitor appear at our next meeting? >> That's up to the city council. >> Yeah. Let's make a motion. Let's send as a subcommittee and the uh and the uh
city solicitor can appear there and if if it can't be done then it'll be dead. >> Okay. may also >> right. >> So it' be on the motion uh by councelor Arenzio to approve that the city council approve
a special act permitting the city of River to establish penalties and leans for rooming house and certificate of occupancy ordinance violations. >> All in favor? All opposed. >> So what? >> Thank you. >> Oh yes. This will be going to
legislative affairs. >> Very good. Perfect. >> Public hearings calendar item number five. Hearing called is ordered on an ordinance further amending title 13 of the Rever revised ordinances relative to storm water management.
>> Good evening. >> My bad. Um my name is Asa Dunn. I'm in the engineering department over at 319 Charger Street. Hi, I'm Thea Kilkenny. Uh, I work for Weston and Samson Engineers, a consultant to the city's engineering
department. Um, specifically, I do uh storm water management assistance. >> Thank you very much. We are here regarding some updates to the storm water management portion of the city code as well as a few updates
to chapter 17 um in the zoning. All of these updates are required by the MS4 permit or the municipal separate storm sewer system permit issued by EPA. It is a NIPES permit and all of these
requirements um all of the language updates that we have suggested are required by the MS4 permit or in support of those requirements. Uh happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you very much. Do we have any
proponents? Anyone here in favor? Proponents hearing none. Closing that side. Any opponents? Anyone here against in opposition? Hearing none. We'll close that side. City councilors.
No questions. Okay. This will be referred to legislative affairs. Thank you. >> Calendar item number six. Hearing call is ordered on an ordinance further amending the zoning ordinances of the city of River relative to storm water management. >> Same.
>> I don't think you have to hold it. >> Okay. Again, these updates are in support of the getting the city into compliance with the requirements in the MS4 permit. >> Thank you very much. Any proponents?
Anyone here in favor? Hearing none. Closing that side. Any opponents? Anyone here in opposition? Closing that side. City councilors. Nope. And this will also this will be referred to zoning
>> calendar item number seven. Hearing call is ordered on a loan order in the amount of $5 million for the lower Broadway water main replacement project. >> Good evening guys. How you doing all? Chris Chamela 319 Charger Superintendent Public Works. So, this loan order is for
the replacement of Lower Broadway, which is the water man from Ambrose Street going down to Ward Street near BJ's. If you guys have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. It's a 6 in water man, well under size for Broadway, well over 100 years old, and we constantly
have issues in front of New Deal, as I'm sure everyone's well aware. >> Thank you, Chris. Any proponents? Good evening, council. Rich Viske, 281 Broadway, city CFO. Um, here to speak in favor of the bond order that will um
provide the city with the funds to make this necessary infrastructure improvement. Happy to answer any questions on the bond order. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Visque. Any other proponents? Anyone else here in favor? Closing that side. Any opponents?
Anyone here against? Closing that side. City councilors. Council Kleandro. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um through you to superintendent. Uh when is this work going to be starting >> and how how long do you think it'll go on? >> So this will be starting in the spring
and I would say approximately two months. It is a little bit of an undertaking since we're going through the circle over there. So, but after this we'll be out of your hair and we'll remain off Broadway for some time >> as long as the New Deal is taken care
of. >> That's right. That's right. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other city councilors? >> Madame clerk. >> Shall the city council approve a loan order in the amount of $5 million for the lower Broadway water main
replacement project? Councelor Aenzio. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Cogandro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Judino. Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Go SA. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hass. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hario. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Kelly. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council McKenna. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Novaski.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Council Zambudo. >> Yes. >> Yes. And Council President Sylvester. >> Yes. >> Yes. The Lone Order has been approved. >> Calendar item number eight. Hearing called is ordered on an ordinance repealing section 9.12.030
030 posting political signs of the revised ordinances of the city of Revier. >> Do we have anyone here proponents? Anyone in favor? Hearing none. Close that side. Any opponents? Anyone here in opposition.
Okay. Closing that side. City councilors. Council Coglando. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, we spoke about this last meeting. U, I just I don't understand having an uninforcable ordinance on the books. Um, doing some
more research, someone who wanted to put signage on their property that would violate this this ordinance would then have standing to complain to the city. Um, it's unconstitutional. It was proven to be unconstitutional in 2014 by the
United States Supreme Court. and to keep it on the books, in my opinion, is an attempt to fool people into thinking that we have a rule that, you know, controls the political signs that happen every year. Uh, I do want to say that I don't see a lot of
signage out compared to other years this year. Um, and you know, people have been very good about Oh, I'm getting the gavvel already. Oh my goodness, Madame Clerk. Anyway, so that's my piece about it.
Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Novasowski. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I'm against this and yes, they may say it's unconstitutional, but we're not totally
stopping from people people from doing it. We're just trying to control it. Now I live in I've lived in Rivier for 78 years and it's always bothered me that there are political signs up
365 days of the year. Used to be. And 12 years ago when we first put this in effect, everybody on this council thought it was the right thing to do to try to keep our city clean and not look like trash with all
these signs staying up all year round. Now, we're not totally stopping people from doing this. We're just controlling the timing of it. And it's only during political seasons. And for the last 12
years, I would say it's worked. People understand that they can put them out a month before the primary, the preliminary election, and they have to take them down within a week or two after the election because there's no
sense of keeping them up. I think it's not necessarily a state law, but it's something that we have as a policy and it is a rule because the city ordinance on it. So, I would say
leave it on the books. It's not hurting anybody. There hasn't been anybody that complained that I know of other than council Kogleandro. And you know, it's something that I still think it would keep our city neat and clean and respectable.
So, I'm asking that this stay on the books. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Councelor Kelly. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I I I agree with Councelor Novasowski, and I I do agree that it keeps the city in terms of how it looks and for aesthetic
purposes and things like that. I agree. However, considering that the Supreme Court found this unconstitutional in 2014 after we agreed that the city council put this ordinance in place, we almost have an obligation now to take it off our books because it is on
unconstitutional. It cannot be enforced. And if someone were to complain um and we were to say you're in violation of the ordinance, they could almost then have grounds to take action against us for trying to limit and
restrain them on their constitutional right, first amendment right of freedom of expression and freedom of speech. And there's a reason why that's the first amendment. It's that important. Um that's why it's first. So although I agree with my colleague um to an extent,
unfortunately the Supreme Court has spoken and we have an obligation to um abide by it and repeal this ordinance. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor. Councelor Zambo. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh I was one
of the people that voted for this when it went in and I was in favor of it back then. uh however a lot's happened since then mainly the Supreme Court but along with that uh this this ordinance or signed
legislation that we passed we're now uh it's a victim of its own success because everybody is pretty well uh you know I don't put signs out too soon. and I try not to and I take them
down right after the election and uh we we don't want unsightly signs up forever. Uh but I I think uh this this sign ordinance has gone the way of uh uh you know it's it's outdated now
especially with the you know the ruling of the Supreme Court and I have to agree with my colleague uh that the first amendment is the first amendment for a reason and uh so uh it it's a lot cleaner to remove it
now and uh uh but I I do give credit to my colleague uh council Novasowski for putting this in back then. It did clean up a mess and uh I don't think we're there anymore. Thank you. >> Thank you councelor. Any other city
council? Councelor Cogiano. >> Thank you for the leeway, Mr. President. Um through you to council Novaski. Just just a question. Um you mentioned that this helps control something. Right now the process when people complain
normally we don't hear it. It goes directly to the election department. They're the ones that have to answer the phone and explain to them that yes, we have a rule on the books, but we don't enforce it because it's unconstitutional. So, taking that rule off the books will
eliminate a lot of phone calls during this time of the year for the election department who's already dealing with enough as it is for the election. and how how can we control anything with an ordinance that we're not enforcing because of the constitutionality of it.
So, I just again I wanted to just touch on that, but I mean I think this is a a no-brainer in my opinion. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other city councilors? This will be referred to legislative affairs. Calendar item number nine, hearing
called is ordered on a zoning ordinance establishing the Feno Street Affordable Housing Overlay District. >> Tom, good evening, councilors. Tom Skrski, 281 Broadway. I'm here tonight to speak with you all about um a zoning
overlay that we've proposed for Feno Street. And I had some maps go around. I'm going to get the rest of the council here. And the maps are particularly important here because it's called the Feno Street affordable housing overlay. And I think what you all see on the map is that's
not what all of us think of as Feno Street. Um although these parcels are um titled Feno Street, it's actually on the other side of Route One um sharing a border with the city of Chelsea um and adjacent to the Chelsea uh housing
authorities properties. And so this site um it about 2 acres in total has been vacant for um decades. and um recently came to mind um as the Chelsea Housing Authority was undergoing a master
planning process for their um their development right in in that section of town. And they actually through that process piqu the interest of the property owner who holds these two parcels and we started a discussion about whether we could consider um
development that might complement the master planning process that's underway in Chelsea. So, um, the the proposal that you have is essentially for an overlay district that would only be, uh, applicable to affordable housing development. I think if I were to ask
one amendment, and I know that's premature, but we can do it when it goes to zoning. It would be for projects with at least 25% affordability within them. Um, and the goal here would to be promote uh promoting multifamily development that's more in keeping with
the neighborhood in and around it. Um, a A as you all um probably read in the letter that I submitted, we still are quite a bit behind in our affordability requirements per 40B. Um since the city
council in February of last year approved and then in June of last year or of this year rather, the uh state certified our housing production plan. We've actually been losing ground on affordability. So, this could be a great opportunity um to help build more
affordability and to create the foundations for uh a good development that complements what's going on in Chelsea. Um, one important note is anything that we would approve, uh, that the city council would approve would be
contingent on what the Chelsea Housing Authority is doing because as, as you can probably see looking at the parcels, all of the access, um, water, sewer, all of that would need to be closely coordinated with Chelsea and the Chelsea Housing Authority. Any development on
these two parcels, frankly, couldn't occur without the cooperation from the city of Chelsea. So, I think some of you may have heard um of some potential development proposals here, but I would consider those not really worth worthy of discussion today because anything
that we would approve um creating the framework for with this zoning ordinance would then need to start a longer conversation with Chelsea in their master planning process for a development that would complement what's going on there. So, uh, I would say in
terms of an actual on the ground development, we're probably quite a ways away. Um, but I certainly approve what we're doing tonight, which hopefully is setting the foundation for that cooperation with Chelsea and for an opportunity to expand our affordable housing stock in the city. Um, and after
we go through the pros and cons, happy to take any questions that you might have. >> Thank you, Tom. Um, do we have any proponents? Proponents. Anyone here in favor? Hearing none. Any opponents?
Anyone here against? City councilors. Councelor Arenzio. >> Thank you, Mr. President. U I've been hearing about this project and I and I've heard from the developer and I'm fully in favor of it. Uh certainly to increase our affordable housing stock,
which Mr. Skarowski has just said that we're gave the state a plan and we're going backwards. So, we really need to turn that around. And this project being in Chelsea, uh it doesn't affect our roads, it doesn't
affect traffic. Um it seems like it's a win-win for the city. I know it's a few years away. Um but I I fully support it. Um, you know, we we really have to turn our uh attention to more affordable housing and I think this is a great uh
way of getting started. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Councel Kelly. >> Thank you. Um, I just have some basic questions that I'd like to ask Tom if you don't mind. Thank you for being here tonight. Um, so first of all, this was originally
going to be reszoned as an RC4, correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. What was the reasoning for then nixing that and and changing it over to an overlay? >> The reasoning behind it was um essentially we we had had some
discussions with a developer who I believe had spoke with some of you all about creating an affordable housing development here. And I think what we ultimately realized is we wanted a zone that if that project ended up not working out, we didn't want to see a case where a market rate development
came in and took its place because the whole intent and why we got so excited about this was that it was a great opportunity to complement what the Chelsea Housing Authority is doing and as councelor Aenzio had mentioned an ability to help close the gap with our 10%. So, we wanted to make sure
essentially this district is is no different in most if not all respects from the RC4 except that there is an affordability requirement to opt into it and then the underlying district does still apply if if you're not opting in. >> So, this would in your opinion then
require more oversight in a in a so to speak than the than the RC4 >> um >> future oversight. So would a special permit be required for anything that goes here in this overlay district issued by the special by the city council? >> It would as it's proposed it would be by
right. Um >> this is all by right. >> Correct. But the oversight would be through the site plan review committee and um similar to the 40r district that was passed um to comply with the state um MBTA communities act. The difference
here being we didn't opt into the state policy which is a little bit more cumbersome and difficult to manage. we figured we could create a simpler process on our own locally for just this one small parcel. >> So in one of the first sections here um
it does refer to all income levels. So would this be limited to just low income and afford you know providing affordable housing or would this be um available to because it says right here um housing for persons of all income levels. So is
that >> so it it mentions within and I' I'd have to get the citation exactly but it would be applicable to any projects that include affordable housing and it references uh 17.29 which is our smart growth
district um the 40 yard districts that we have on Shirley Avenue and Green Street. Um but it only references what an affordable housing project means. I would want to specifically note 25%. That's at least what I would say is the starting point. So then you have sort of
a mixed income development. Um that includes a fair amount of affordability. But that would ultimately be on the council to determine what that number is. >> But if there's no special permit and it can be built by right, when would that requirement come into play, that 25%. It it would be done through the building
commissioner and the site plan review committee as they take in an application understanding does this meet the requirements of the overlay district and the requirements would be whatever the council determines to set. Again, assuming we're setting some kind of baseline affordability requirement. If
they don't receive an application that fulfills that baseline affordability requirement, it they would determine as the zoning determination officers that this would not be eligible. So then if if you're wondering how would we determine the affordability component,
that would be a a continuous monitoring that we would have to do to make sure that uh just like any project that we have in the city where we're requiring 10% or 15% affordability in the lead trailer park example, we're going to have to monitor and ensure that they meet the requirements and if they
wouldn't, they'd be in violation of right zoning ordinance. I think my concern is the fact that if this was going going to be done by special permit, then I think I would be more in line to see that that process would be followed through because at the special
permit stage, we could as a council make sure what the affordability um requirement was going to be, whether it be 25% or 80%. Um, but with it being built by right, I don't know if I'm a I'm a little confused about that to make sure it is it's enforceable and we get
we decide on what we want it to be because I think in this project we were originally talking that this was going to be two buildings which I know now might be taking some a while but two buildings with um almost 100% of those
units being affordable. So then to turn around and say well they might only be 25% affordable. That's a big different a big difference between the two. And so does would this overlay district then just include the two acres or would it be the entire 70 acres that it would
include or what would we be talking about? >> Good question. It would just be the the acres uh the two parcels in question which is roughly two acres give or take. Um and as to what the percentage of affordability is, um even if we're not approving a project per se, you could
set that requirement as the council um now in in setting the ordinance. And then I think yes, the site plan review committee would be responsible for actually monitoring and enforcing that. But I think we're the subject matter experts that I I think we're pretty well verssed in how to do that and feel
confident in our abilities. And could we also put a um would there be any preference requirement for for Riviera residents? >> Um you can always have up to 70% local preference. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And considering that this is going
to be an 02151 zip code. Um children here would be going to our schools though, right? It may not be imp. I understand the egresses are going to be in Chelsea, but this would impact our school system, right? They would be Reier residents. I would assume so.
>> Okay. And then the water and sewer that would be also burden on Chelsea. Is there going to be some type of an impact fee that we'll have to pay to Chelsea to absorb that? >> We would anticipate there being some form through this development of an intermunicipal agreement that we would
have to sign that would that would cover those costs. >> Okay. >> And reflect that collaboration between the two communities. >> Okay, that's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor Councelor Samuto. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I find this particular parcel uh
attractive because it's pretty much in Chelsea and it's not going to affect our traffic. It's not going to affect our inf infrastructure. However, it is obviously going to affect our school system. Uh, so that's the
how can I put this kindly? That's the negative part of this project. But, uh, as far as, uh, creating the district and and putting the restrictions on, I'm I'm in favor of it for this parcel. I'm not sure I would find a lot of other parcels in the city
that I could support. In fact, probably zero. But, uh, I think it I I think it's a it's a good start. And uh it's definitely I've never been frightened by the that we're under
10% affordable. I think we've we've gone over this discussion quite a bit and I've been threatened with that for 25 years. Nobody's ever taken me up on the threat. So I think I'm on the right side of that issue, but this is one that I can support and I will. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Kogandro. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um so we're creating this zoning for this project, correct? We're creating the zoning for a potential project which might be the one that you have heard of, but
realistically considering this is going to need coordination with the city of Chelsea and the Chelsea Housing Authority, it could look like something different. So, I wouldn't overly focus on one particular project. >> It would seem like one goes with the other. So, if we approve this, they're going to build or or begin the process
of wanting to build. Um, so and and to councelor Kelly's point, we don't have any oversight. The council doesn't after this point. It would go to site plan. So, you know, we have concerns from residents. The the uh schooling was one of them. Um although I I understand the
the issue with schooling. I just if do we want affordable housing? Because that's going to bring families. So, we have to assume if we get affordable housing anywhere that we're going to get children that are going to go into the school system. um and that we had previously discussed maybe if there was uh you know if this does go through that those kids might have a chance to go to
Chelsea. I don't know anything about that. So I'm hoping we can get an answer on that. The other question I had was about public safety if there is a facility or an apartment building built over there. Um is River going to have to go around to get you know a fire
apparatus say through Chelsea to the building? Same with police. Um, you know, I know we have great relationships with the other cities, but I'd like to know what the plan is for that. If we do allow, if we're going to build this district, we're assuming or we're going to approve this district, we're assuming something is going to be built there.
So, I want to make sure that we, you know, have all the the information. Um, this this project, it was said it was going to be 100% affordable, right? Is that true?
>> Yes. >> Okay. because that and and and how close would that if if not over the 10% how close to that 10% does that get us to? >> So we're about 700 units short give or take um in our housing production plan
in year 1 in order this time in June 2026 to continue to be in good standing with the state will have had to produce 122 units of affordable housing between now and June of 26. So it helps us get there, but we're about 17th to where we
need to be. >> So that I mean, and I agree with Council Zamutoo. 40B has been used nothing but a bargaining chip for the last 25 years according to you. So um but I would like to get close enough to that number. Um this property may as well be in Chelsea.
And you know, again, it's not a strain on our public works, not a strain to utilities. Um, my concerns were schooling and the traffic that comes with it. Not the fact that we're going to have kids brought to the city, I'm all for that, but the traffic that that's going to bring having to go through Chelsea to get back to Rivier.
So, that's one issue I have. And the other one is the public safety aspect. But other than that, this is kind of a no-brainer. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Uh, Council McKenna. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, I'm just,
uh, curious. this building is it gonna cast a shadow on the um uh Northeast Expressway is >> So that's I think something that we would uh need to work with the project
team to to work through once we actually get on a project based review. We again I think it's a bit premature to look at that particular design because we don't know if Chelsea might say you need to change the design in conformance with what the housing authority is doing but shadow studies and things like that
would be the types of things we would need to look at and you know certainly in partnership with the state and mast >> because I would hate to see something like you know a a shadow cast on that um expressway at 3:00 in the afternoon or two o'clock in the afternoon. So I just
uh and it's so close to the uh expressway. So that's I was just wondering about that. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Council H. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Tom, I had a question. to cut into the school aspect
of it with the affordable housing and um to cut into the overcrowding of the classrooms. I know a few kindergarten classrooms have more than 20 kids in their respective classes this year and that's far too many for any kindergarten teacher will tell you that's that's far
too many. But to cut into that aspect of it with the with the school population, would the affordable housing aspect ever come from a point of say senior affordable or veteran senior veteran affordable? Um could we limit could not
limit but could we pinpoint the type of affordable housing that goes into these units? >> I I don't believe that's something that you would want to achieve through zoning. I think that could run a fall of some fair housing issues because of that
exact reason. I think a lot of communities do try to create tools to keep families and and schools from being overburdened. But >> and if we couldn't do that, could we say if it's 25% maybe do 10% senior,
you know, 10% senior veteran or not? Not not to that extent, but but you know, separate it, divide it up three ways between regular affordable, senior affordable, and senior veteran affordable. Is there anything we could do with that to to mix that up? >> I think I could take that into
consideration and have more information for you at the zoning subcommittee. That works. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you, councelor. Council Garino Suire. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Tom, when I had a meeting with um the developers, we were discussing the schools and that was
like my number one concern on where we were going to put the children in in our school system. But they our conversation ended up being that they would give preference to existing
REI families that already live in Riviera, that are looking for low-income housing that are already in our school system. And I want to make sure that that what they said to me is actually what they are going to do. Um, and as
far as what the percentage was, I did not hear that it was 100% from their mouth. >> And >> so I heard it was about I think they said 7030 and they were going to give reverence. >> The 70% is probably the local preference
option. So that's just in any affordable housing development, you can give up to 70% of the units as a preference to people that are applying locally. you always need to set aside 30% from people that don't reflect that local preference need. Um I I don't know what their final
percentage was. I think it was closer to 100, but they they said of that 100 units, 70% of them could be local preference to your point. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Council Hero. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Through to uh
Tom, thank you for bringing this up. Um, I guess I I have a couple questions. Um, well, first I want to reject some premises made about, you know, whether affordability brings new families in and
burn. I mean, we have people in the city of River for a two family home, a twoerson home, uh, that fit affordability at $118,000, which is a lot of money, but also not a lot of money, especially the housing
costs that we have here. Um, so whether it's a parent with a kid or two adults, um, you know, the premise that affordability somehow burdens our schools innately, I think that's just a flawed premise because we have people
who live in this city who make that money and can't afford to stay in this city and they don't have kids. It might just be a couple. And so I just want to reject that. And I say that because, you know, right after this, I think we're talking about wage theft. uh and and
there are workers in this city who uh work at sites in the city and around the city and the greater Boston region who can't afford to live in the greater Boston region. Um and so, you know, I think it's so important that we are
betting on a site that brings as much affordability as possible. Um which, you know, I guess some questions around this, right? and and I'll link this to the conversation around the wage theft piece that we're talking about next is that uh we need to ensure that whatever
goes on this side and in addition to maybe some of the concerns that have been brought up here by by my fellow counselors um I think it'd be important that if we're going to reszone this um after we you know that it's important that uh for the workforce component we
are uh ensuring that whoever is doing the work there is paying a prevailing wage age, etc., etc. Um, because we have people who gotten in this city who can't afford a lot of things. Um, and and I guess that's my two cents on that. Um,
and would like to maybe potentially work with your office on on that component if we're going to just actually do away with I know we had talked a little bit about the project. You've mentioned it a few times. We all heard about it individually. Uh, would love to work with you on that. Um
um and although 25% is not not ideal, I mean I I know that keeps getting kicked around. Um you know, I'd like to be able to see this through, but I think if you could address some of the concerns either individually or to the council today, um that'd be helpful. That's just
my I guess my initial analysis here. Thank you, Tom. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Jenzio. >> Thank you for the leeway, Mr. President. So, uh, one of the points that, uh, Councelor Kelly brought up, um, when we go to zoning, we're going to set the
parameters for this overlay district. So, why don't we just set it at 80% affordable? And I I know you just suggested 25%. But if if we want this to be affordable, just set that parameter. And if it's by
right, it'll be by right that you have to provide 80%. Uh, at least. And the second thing I we're a city of bluecollar workers that want to raise families. We seem like we're leerary
about kids a lot of times. Um from what I hear, the enrollment in our school system is going down. So I wouldn't want to be afraid of kids uh getting affordable housing. I I think
we're blue collar. We're always saying that uh families are being pushed out of the uh uh out of the city. Uh I think affordable housing with uh families and kids in mind is is where we want to go and uh and set the parameter to to where
we want it and um the project comes along and they fit that parameter by right as long as you're giving us 80% affordable maybe not 100. Um, I think that's uh we'll do that in zoning and
it'll be there. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor, very much, councelor Kelly. >> Thank you for the leeway. So, I guess um that's the that's where I'm stuck and where my concern comes from. What
councel Jenzio just um discussed to as well. Um, I just don't understand why why aren't we just taking this per project and and issuing a special permit and then putting the parameters
in on that special permit. Why do the overlay and put because the only way I could really support something like this is if those parameters are in place and we do have 80% affordable housing. um and the 70% and I think that's where we get around any concern about the school
system and extra burden on the school system which I don't know whether or not would be created but if we did put another requirement about preference to REA residents those families are already living in Riviera so it's not like it's going to be an added burden that they're going to be coming in from outside the
city so I would feel more comfortable issuing a special permit for a special you know for an individual product project than doing it this way. But if we can get the parameters in place, then that would be all right.
>> Uh, attorney Jerry Diamio, uh, I believe I early on we we had discussed I, by the way, I represent a potential developer of this parcel, this 1acre, slightly larger than 1acre parcel. I think what's happened really
over the last couple of weeks that I can inform the council about is that in looking at this project, Chelsea in specific has said, "Well, hold on one second." Um, this really is a Chelsea project, right? It's it's it's kind of
like the the tail on the dog because the city of Chelsea is planning a massive redevelopment of this housing uh uh area uh in Prattville. um they put the project out to bid. My understanding is the Cochran Group was
successful in that RFP and they're currently early on in their plans, but it's going to add hundreds of units to this Chelsea area. Um I believe what the developer of this small lot had suggested it would be between 50 and
100. Again, it's it's the tail on the dog. Um, and and I I put forward that analogy because the city of Chelsea wants to make sure that this smaller parcel is well integrated into the larger overall parcel. And and while I
suspect that whatever is built here is probably going to be a significant majority affordable 75, 70, 80, whatever those ultimate numbers are are going to be uh achieved through a harmonization.
if you will, with what Chelsea is building. And and that goes to every other issue here. The likelihood is that they're going to be using tie-ins to Chelsea DPW, Chelsea resources, Chelsea
DPW, Chelsea Water, Chelsea Emergency. Look, the geography of this spot is undeniable. That right now, if you wanted to access this land legally, you'd have to fly over it and parachute in because there is no access through
the city of River. There is no access really through public areas in Chelsea. There there is no frontage on this parcel. It's totally landlocked in uh by other other property owners in the city of Chelsea. So the only way this works
is with uh the city of Chelsea allowing it allowing whatever varants and access way that are going to be needed the tie-ins the school usage. So rather than looking at it as one single project I suggest that the better way of looking
at it is a larger project with hundreds of units that we're going to have to harmonize with Chelsea. And while candidly Chelsea's going to be bearing the brunt of some of these issues and the city of River is going to be getting
the benefits in terms of a a 40B set off. Um there's going to be there's going to need to be some harmony between the two cities and some of these issues. And so I think I do think that control I think a site plan control is important. You
can adjust the number and say whether it's 80 or 70 or 60. That could be important. I think the AMIs are going to be important. But I think allowing some flexibility so that it can kind of mesh into the the Chelsea project is going to be important. You don't want to have
kids living across the street from each other having different rules, right? It would kind of make no sense if you have one building on one side of the street that's in Chelsea allowing for a certain kind of housing or AMI and then having the building that's right across the
street having different set of rules. And I get it that elbow is technically River, but let's be frank, it's really Chelsea, right? That they're going to be living uh and and having resources using the resources of the city of Chelsea.
Um, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if any agreement that's worked out with Chelsea also involves the local schools in Chelsea, uh, having those kids. >> But there may also be an impact fee that we'll have to pay for Chelsea. So even though so what I I guess what I want to
say is I want to make sure that the city of Revier is getting a good benefit from this 25% affordable housing and then paying an impact fee to Chelsea because of the water and sewer and other things that may they may be responsible for. I don't know if that's a good enough
benefit for for the city. I want to make sure that the benefit to the city is a good one. And I think we're only going to get that if we get a 70, 80, or 90% affordable housing units in there in addition to then being offset to paying the impact fee. That has to be a high
percentage in order for it to go towards our 40b. That's a big benefit for us. When we're talking 25% and then possibly still an impact fee being paid to Chelsea, I don't see the the benefit to Rever. >> Yeah, I I'm I'm not sure that they're asking for an impact fee. I I do know
that the property tax for the city of River is going to go up and go through the roof, right? >> But if it's their water and sewer and I mean I don't I how >> well but at the end of the day I mean those are all going to be subject to those agreements. And by the way, I
believe the city council needs to approve those agreements. Ultimately those inner community uh contracts aren't worked out by private developers. They're all going to have to be approved by this city council. Remember, this is just again the point is this is just a
shell that's going to allow it to happen. You're going to have to have quite a few votes coming down the road on all of those agreements with the city of Chelsea. And traditionally, it's the city council. I think the city council is the only authority that has the right to do that. So, you're going to be voting on those agreements as they're
presented over the next 3 to 5 years. And I think the reason we're not here with definitive plans is that Chelsea's just not there yet. Chelsea's in the initial phases of developing this and so they're not quite sure yet what that
harmony is going to be. So in voting for it, you're just leaving the door open. >> Point of order. Point of order. >> State your point. >> Uh thank you, Mr. President. Uh this is going to zoning. We're going to discuss all these details. Uh we can go on all
night here, but we're not going to get anywhere. We're going to work this out in zoning. So, I would appreciate if we move on. >> Thank you. >> I'm going to allow I'm going to allow the few counselors to ask their two more questions and I got one myself and then we'll move on. Council, thank you.
>> Councelor Hass, >> thank you, Mr. President. You know, when we were talking about affordable housing, someone had brought up overcrowded classrooms. I added to it. I have two children. My son is six and our daughter is four. Um, I've always been
for young families in Revier. I've always been for keeping young families in Reier. I've always been for for helping senior citizens through my my work um the last five years. But senior housing is a big issue and um senior
affordable housing is a big big issue. Allowing seniors to stay in their places of residence is a huge issue. Keeping people in Ree is a huge issue. I see it all the time with my friends that move up north. they move out west. Young families, um, new newlyweds, couples
that just moved in together, they can't afford an apartment here. They're moving elsewhere. But for once for the for someone to say that there were a couple comments that families, the counselor did not care about families is
ridiculous. >> No one said, >> well, someone added it. Someone said he was talking about families, but um I was looking at the point of splitting up the affordable housing into senior housing, regular affordable, and veteran and
senior veteran. But to to put that out there that a counselor doesn't care about young families is just is just outright ludicrous. But I just like to put that on record. >> Bobby, no one said that. >> Thank you, counselor. Um, any other counselors?
Permission to speak from the chair. >> Thank you. And um, so I I did meet with a a potential developer. Um, and and I am all for this and I I got to be honest, 25% is not enough. Um, as
councelor Kelly said, I think we need to we need to put it up there at 70. from the conversation we had with a potential developer. Um there were a lot of all levels of BMI, 30, 60, 80. So it could
go across the board. You're going to get families, you're going to get affordable, you're going to get seniors. And this is something that we as city councilors have been screaming from the rooftops every election season. It's affordability. It's affordability. It's affordability. and then we come up here
and we block every chance at affordability that comes before us. We can't do it. We need to support the city. We need to support our residents with affordability and that project needs to come up a lot higher than 25% um to gain my support. So that's all I
have and this will re be referred to zoning. [Music] Hearing call is ordered on a loan order for McMack and Field in the amount of $4.2 million. >> Good afternoon. Chris Chair, superintendent for public works, 319
Charger Street. Um, so this loan order will help the DPW finish off McMackenfield. The DPW's put a lot of time and effort into this property and I'd love to see this come through to fruition. If there are any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. >> Thank you, Chris. Do we have any
proponents? Mr. Visque. >> Good evening, council. Richard Visqueke, 21 Broadway, city CFO. I am here in support of the loan order presented to you. This 4.2 million is the last step that we need to uh have authorized so
that we can execute the contract. This is a uh a project that's already been out to bid. We actually have the set numbers. So, this is not an estimate. This is based upon actual needs. And um again, we're just waiting for this bond authorization to to get rolling on completion of the park. So, happy to
answer any questions on that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other proponents? Name and address. Proponent. Uh James Mccuria 193 Cresenav Ward 1. Uh it's a long time coming for this project. I think uh the council and uh the residents and the children are
really excited about this project to get completed. Uh I played there many years ago and uh we're all looking forward to uh closing this project out. I just have one question for Mr. Visque. The loan order is for 4.2 million.
Okay. And uh what's that? Is that a uh 10 or a 15-year bond just to let the PA taxpayers know what this is uh going to be costing us? If I may, Mr. President, I'm happy to answer Mr. Mccario's question here.
What we would have is a 15-year bond for $4.2 million in um annual debt service payment would be in the uh average around $372,000 a year for this loan order. Just to let everyone know this this is only partial. We couple uh about
six years uh 6 months ago 12 months ago we've reallocated some other money that got the preliminary work done. So this is the actual construction of the park. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Visque. I appreciate it and looking forward then getting this done. >> Thank you, Jim. Any other proponents?
Anyone else here in favor? Closing that side. Opponents. Anyone here in opposition? Closing that side. City councilors. Council Kleandro. >> Thank you, Mr. President. It's not a question. I'm just Can would you would
you guys be able to send us a copy of the plans so we know what it's what it's going to look like? >> Yes, I can forward those to all the counselors. That's it. Thank you. >> No problem. >> Thank you, Council. >> Councelor Aenzio.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh Mr. Chair Miller, I had the same question. I has a set of plans uh been uh drawn up and shown to the city council, who's who designed it is and and what are the facilities? Is there a clubhouse? Is
there a concession stand? Is there a bleachers? What kind of a field is it going to be? So the design was completed by Weston and Samson. >> Okay. >> It was done in tandem with the DBW parks and wreck. >> Okay. >> And we had some a couple inputs from some of the counselors. It's a turf
field. There is a small building on the site for a bathroom. >> Okay. >> And there's also a press box. But as far as the facilities go on the field, it's mostly a field. There's two sets of stands on the left side for 60
people and I believe one set on the right side for 30 people. >> Okay. I I I would have been more comfortable if we saw a set of plans as as to what the $4.2 million was going. Is is it an irrigation system? Is it natural turf? >> No, it's it's a very large project.
There's a lot of improvements to winterb itself, >> right? >> A large retaining wall providing off- streetet parking. >> Okay. I believe it's 27 spots in front of the field. There's raised crosswalks along uh Winter Bav. I mean, there's a
whole netting system to protect the surrounding abutters. Um I'd be happy to send you the plans along just so you guys can look over them, but >> Okay. Is it natural turf uh or or >> No, it is an artificial turf. >> Artificial turf light. Full set of lights.
>> Yes. Full set of lights. Um speaker system. is over. We went all through it. Beautiful scoreboard. >> All right. If if you could send me those plans, I I would appreciate it. >> I'd be happy to. >> Thank you. >> Thank council council has. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Chris, thank you for all your work with this. Um,
thank you to everyone involved. I know this is a huge huge uh location for our city. It was for many years. Like Mr. Mccurio said, there was always St. Mary's and McMack. And so anytime you talk about adding a space like that, an outside um space for for kids to play, whether it's uh football, flag football,
baseball, soccer, anything like that is huge. Um I had a few residents before the work started reach out from the apartment building behind and um they were concerned about drainage with the work going on and things like that. Any have there been any um how's the
relationship with the the people in that building? >> We've been trying to work out the drainage between that building for a little while now. Um, we've been in touch with the engineers. I mean, they're floating back designs back and forth. Currently, it's all dumping into the field, which we're trying to
alleviate, but we'll see where that goes. >> And are we looking at a summer um for it being ready next summer, you think, or >> um fall? >> Late summer. >> Late summer. >> Yeah. >> Awesome. >> But yeah, that's our timeline. >> Great. Then maybe one day we can talk
about throwing a a dome on top of that. >> Yes, >> that would be awesome. Thank you. Of course. >> Thank you, councelor. Council McKenna. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to give kudos to logistic uh link. Uh they
gave uh $500 uh,000 to uh the city uh in CT money in Ward One and they're going to give another $500,000 once uh their facility is finished. And that's going to um McMackenfield. So, I just wanted to give them kudos. Uh
they're giving a million dollars which is going into the M Mc Mack and Field which is CIT money from Ward One. So just want to say thank you. >> Thank you councelor Council Zamutoo. >> Uh thank you Mr. President. We're all excited about McMackenfield coming back
to life with it was little Fenway Park when I first came to the city. Um what I'd like to know is we're bonding 4.2 two million right now. Does somebody have a total cost of what the whole project is going to cost in
the end? >> So, >> that's probably more for the CFO than for you. But >> I mean, this is the last piece of the puzzle, so to say. The the authorization is already complete for the buildings. This is phase two. Buildings were phase three because they're two separate
projects, but this will cap it off. >> Thank you, Mr. CFO. >> Thank you. How are you? Good evening. I'm doing well. Thank you. Um, like I said earlier, um, I don't know if it was this fiscal year or last fiscal year, we
repurposed $2.3 million worth of, uh, former bond authorizations and borrowings. That 2.3 million got it to where it is today with all the kind of um, underground work and the leveling of the field and the soils. And this 4.2 million combined with that 2.3 million
should be the total cost of the project. >> So, we're looking about 6.5 million total cost. >> Exactly. >> Great. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Herio. >> Thank you, Mr. President, and through you um to uh Chris. Nice to see you. Thank you for coming. I just have a
question about the water retention. Um that neighborhood. I live on low street, which is a stones three. Oh, stones throw away from that neighborhood. It's called Low Street because it's a low it's a low neighborhood. That whole low street neighborhood which runs up to um
Winter Bath there. um and less so on the side of where McMacken is admittedly. Uh but uh and we haven't seen too much flooding, but it is one of the lowest line neighborhoods in the city. And so uh we we know what's happening at
Suffach Downs where they're building um they're building like an amphitheater that would actually pull is actually going to pull water um at some point should there be a you know 100redyear storm or something like that. Um and they're building a lot of permeable uh
surfaces uh particularly uh biop-ermeable uh surfaces in that in that development in Suffach Downs. This seems like a really good opportunity. One of the one of the uh unintended side effect of having that become
essentially a marsh over the last 10 years is that a lot of water was actually pooling there and preventing from going into people's basements and people's foundations. Um, so I can you speak a little bit? It sounds like you've been into the details of the project uh with the architects
potentially or the engineers. Can you speak a little bit about that? Is this going to provide additional water retention support for that neighborhood uh and protect people's properties? >> So, not specifically for that neighborhood, but the system itself, as
you said, it was very wet down there previously. Yeah, >> this was field had to be raised five I'm sorry 8 ft total >> okay >> from the existing level >> about your height. >> Yeah. So we um after that was well in tandem with raising the field we also
installed the 100year storm um storm scepter system. So there's a big cult system underneath that field that can sport a storm a thousand year I'm sorry 100 year storm. As far as the neighborhood though, there is a project currently ready to build um bid for
library low drainage project to fix and improve that whole drainage area. >> That's awesome. Um but we could foresee I guess because of the type of surfaces that's there, it'll be permeable on the on the astroturf there and then uh it's dirt I imagine dirt fill in the bottom. There'll be quite a bit of water
retention there. um without uh I I don't know if you know maybe you can ask this question figure this question out for us um look I mentioned the amphitheater in in um Suffach Downs which if I remember from the plans it's been a while ago um
that's going to that particular piece of infrastructure will allow for flooding in case of a a really bad storm and the water will actually raise there u if there's a really bad storm is that something that we can lo like we can reasonably do for
McMacken um in the event of a really bad storm so that the water is being funneled there instead of going into the streets or the or the basement or anything like that or is it too late I guess maybe yeah and also you might not have the answer to this question just >> so the field itself is sized
appropriately for 100year storm for what falls in the field itself in and around the field as far as that neighborhood >> we already had a flooding issue there I'd hate to divert more water towards that field, but we are, like I said, there is a storm design, I'm sorry, a drainage design prepped and ready to go.
We just bid as a this is the next one to go is for that neighborhood to upsize and correct those flooding issues. >> Great. Thank you so much. >> No problem. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other city councils? Councelor Jenzio. >> Uh Mr. President, I'd like to maybe
table this and have uh Weston and Samson come up here and present some renderings and exactly uh so we can physically see uh what we're bonding the 4.2 million. I I'm fully in favor of the project and I'd
love to see this uh come to fruition, but I don't think there's ever been a presentation in front of the council with uh rendering unless I'm I'm totally losing it here. I I don't know. I don't remember that that's a project of this nature is usually a formal presentation
in front of the council and and we can with a if they designed it and so I I I don't mean to delay this any further but if maybe in October Weston Samson can come up and and um give us a presentation I'd love to see what uh
what we're spending the money on. >> Yeah. Is that >> Yeah. any >> um as far as presentation I'm glad to do it just >> well just some renderings usually you have big uh >> yeah we did have renderings oh I'm sorry we did not present the renderings of the council itself but there were some along
uh winter bav itself in front of the field um >> okay >> this may delay the opening of the field but if this is what this >> mean a week or two uh canon Samson come in October or I'm sure >> I'm sure they'd be happy to
>> okay so I'd like to make a motion to table this until west and Samson can make a a presentation for us. >> Okay. Madam clerk, >> I would like to just point out please >> on the roll call to table the loan order for Mcmack and Field. Councelor Aenzio,
>> yes. >> Yes. Councelor Kaggleandro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Janino. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Gino Slaya. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor H. >> No. >> No. Councelor Jammo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Kelly.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. Council McKenna. >> I'm sorry. >> No. Council Basilski. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Zambudo. >> No. No. >> Councelor Novasel, I mean Council Zamutoo voting no. And Council President
Sylvestri. >> No. >> No. The matter will be tabled. >> Okay. Thank you. Calendar item number 11. Hearing called is ordered on an ordinance further amending wage theft policies in the city of River.
>> Do we have any proponents? Anyone here in favor? Please come up. >> Sorry. My name is Josh Cologne. I'm a business rep with Carpenters Union. And I like to say that wage theft
affects all of us. It negatively impacts the community. And these practices amount to tax and insurance fraud. It not only affects the employees, it affects all of us. I'd like to speak in favor of amending the tax ordinance. I'm
sorry, the wage ordinance further. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Do we have any other proponents? >> Korea 15 Coris Street. I'm here to speak in support of this um ordinance amendment. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other proponents? Anyone
else here in favor? Any opponents? Anyone here against? City councilors. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Through you um to the council, I I'd like to say um
just that this is such an important update to our ordinance which is um a little outdated. Um as Mr. Josh Cole, is that right? >> Cole. Yeah. Colon or >> Colon. Okay, Josh Cologne um mentioned
uh the wiff happens a lot and does lead to tax and insurance fraud, but most importantly uh what's happening around the country, but certainly here in River and in Massachusetts is that developers
are building cheaper and cheaper products and projects. Uh and in addition to that, they're saving or I would like to say stealing 30% uh in the profit that the workers have
earned by paying them third on average 30% less than if they did a job that had something like a prevailing wage. Um naturally folks with that 30% comes some additional what I like to think intended
consequences which is contractors who are engaging in wage theft are also curtailing and paying less into workers compensation into state and federal taxes into unemployment insurance which many
of the workers also need. Additionally, for some of our most vulnerable workers, some of our most vulnerable workers, contractors who engage in wage theft are
taking advantage of their ability to work or inability to work here and paying them less and holding workers under the gun uh when they are in most need. Um, I think that we can all agree that
we've talked a lot about the nature of our working-class city. Um, and I think we can all agree that this is not a practice that we should be engaging in or allowing any of one any any person or any contractor that we work with uh or that is doing business in our city to
engage uh in and that's why I've proposed this ordinance. I I commend the I see some some uh construction workers here, some members of the carpenters unit here. Uh and I commend you all because it's 7:37
on a Monday night and you're probably just worked a long day and um you this is the last place where you'd want to be. Um, so I I really appreciate that you're here to say um, you know, to show your face and and and
uh, be in support of something that will benefit your family because essentially what contractors that practice do this practice, what they're doing is they're taking bread off of people's tables. um and they're exacerbating some of the issues that we're facing here like
displacement um and unaffordability because they're just not paying hardworking people the right amount of money, the amount of money that they deserve. Um so I urge my colleagues to join me um in passing this
ordinance uh when it comes up next on the council. Um and thank you for the leeway, Mr. President. Again, thanks again for the workers that are here. Thank you, Mr. Colon, for for showing up today. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other city councilors?
Hearing none. Okay. This will be referred to legislative affairs. >> M. Mr. President. >> Councelor. >> Uh, can I ask suspension of rules? We have a department head here to discuss uh an issue and uh like to under our rules, we take up department heads
first. >> And uh >> item 35, if you would please. >> Okay. Madam clerk, if we can suspend the rule, take up item number 35, please. >> Uh, council on the suspension of rules. All in favor? All opposed?
>> 35. Calendar item number 35, motion presented by councilors Kelly and Cogleandro that the mayor request the election department to reinstate the Lincoln school as a polling location beginning with the 2027 elections >> chief that's not elections
>> that's not >> noise ordinance >> not not the sheet that I have noise ordinance motion >> yeah 35 >> calendar item Number 36. Motion presented by council noveski that the mayor request the chief of police to
purchase decibel meters for all police cruisers for the purpose of enforcing the noise ordinance. >> Chief >> Maria Levita, chief of police. Thank you to the council for um pushing this forward. So yes, I've had some conversations with
councelor Novaski. We've obviously have a quality of life issue going on. So, anything we can do to better enforce that, I'm in favor of. We're at the research. Um, we're researching the right devices at this point, see cost,
how many we need, things like that. So, we'll be moving forward on that. >> Thank you, Chief. City Council, Council Kleandro. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, thank you, Chief, for being here. Um, so, you know, we're trying to switch this over to 40
would pass today. Uh, how many do do you have a a roundabout number of how many cruisers this going to go into and what it's going to cost per to put this in? >> No, there's there's a vast array of the devices. So, we want to make sure we have the right ones so we're able to
properly assess and document what it is. So, right now, um, depending on price will be kind of how many we deploy. So, we need to look at if it's something that maybe just should go in the supervisor's cars to start and see um
how often they're deployed and and utilized and then maybe go from there if it if we're seeing a really good positive result with it. We can always u turn around and outfit more cruises as we go along. >> And is this something that is budgeted for already? Do you have do you have the
money for this? Um I I don't anticipate it being a huge expenditure. Like I said, we we have done a little bit of research. Okay. But um I I don't think it's anything that would say >> it's going to bust the budget. >> It's going to be over $15,000.
>> I don't anticipate being over $15,000. >> We don't have to send this to Ways and Means then. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, counselor. >> If that changes, I'll let you know. >> I don't think so, though. >> Any other counselors? >> Mr. Mr. President, I just want to thank the chief and you for bringing this up
and the council for allowing this to move forward. Uh the chief has been here for a while and uh we want to make sure uh we hear from the right people and to make the right choices and what we want to do here. So hey, thank you very much. >> Thank you, councelor. All in favor? All opposed?
>> So ordered. Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you. >> Back to the regular order business. Public comment pursuant to chapter 402 of the acts of 1965. >> Okay. Residents, business owners of
Revier, if you have anything to speak on the agenda, please come up. You have two minutes. Please give your name, address in the motion you'll be speaking on. Anybody? Okay, it's closed. Unfinished business. Calendar item
number 12. An ordinance further amending chapter 12.2 poles, wires, and cables of the revier revised ordinances. >> Any city councilors? >> Mr. President, I think um there was a hold in this because it was tabled on
the third reading last time. So, uh you know, I'm against it. You know, I still don't feel that the engineering department is uh the right place to put this something like this. You know, I like to see that uh we we have control of the problems
here in the council. I know they usually blow wind to us when they come up, but I think we ought to have direct access to them, not through an a third party here in here in the city. So, thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other
counselors? Council Kelly. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to say that I echo exactly what councelor Novasowski said. Um I agree that this should stay with the council so that we have um some control and we can have some
dialogue with the residents and with National Grid. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Jenzio. >> Uh thank you, Mr. President. This was uh my motion. I see this as bogging down the city council process to have
national grid come up here and talk at length about where a phone poll is going to go. I I think uh the city council is better served with other things. This I think is appropriate to have the city engineer. We've we've had discussions um
about the city engineer notifying ward counselors when they are approached by national grid so the wad counselor can uh do their due dil diligence and look at the location and see if there's any problems for the neighborhood. I just
see it as a burden here on us um to uh just to decide on where a phone poll is going to go. So, so that was my reason for the um motion. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? Councelor Zambo.
>> Uh thank you, Mr. President, and I agree with my colleague from W 4. Uh I think uh I think it's time to move on from the uh the battles of over the telephone polls, etc. that we've gone
through for many years up here. I've been trying I' I've been hoping for something like this. We did as best we could with what we had. We put together a list. We did a lot of good over the years and but I think it is in fact time for the engineer to do
that. And and I I agree that you know the especially the ward counselors should be in touch with the engineer on on u projects that are going to go forward. But I I I have to agree with uh councelor Arenzio on this one. Thank you.
Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? Councelor Novasowski. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, u I tend to agree on poll locations when they're putting in a new poll, but when we have national grid up here, it's more about the double polls and I don't want to lose control of that and I don't want
to give that to the city engineer that we have double polls. We have probably have 115 or 120 double polls in this city and it's very slow to get them down. We passed ordinances here several years back that make, you know, tells
National Grid that they have to have a pole removed within six months. I have polls in my neighborhood have been there for 10 years. Totally unacceptable. And I still want National Grid to come here to come to us, not through the city
engineer. >> Mr. President, >> thank you, councelor. Councelor Oenzio. Um I I believe in um we I I made it clear that uh nothing precludes us from having National Grid come up here to
discuss double poles, hanging wires, anything like that. And maybe we should do that on a quarterly basis. Uh the people that come up here before us, uh when we start questioning them about double poles, hanging wires, they they basically just shrug their shoulders and
and and say they don't have anything to do with that. and we vent uh and nothing really comes to fruition. So maybe quarterly we have a national grid come up here and we have our lists of double polls and things that are irritating us and um you know I think
that's prudent. Um so thank you. Roll call. >> Thank you councelor and madame clerk if we can roll call for engrossment and ordainment. >> Shall the city council approve an ordinance further amending chapter 12.2 20 poles, wires and cables of the rea
revised ordinances. Councelor Aenzio, >> yes. >> Yes. Councelor Cogleandro, >> yes. >> Yes. Councelor Janino, >> yes. >> Yes. Councelor Gino SA. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hass, >> yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hario, >> yes. >> Yes. Councelor Kelly, >> no. >> No. Council McKenna? >> Yes.
>> Yes. Council Basilski? >> No. >> No. Councelor Zambudo? >> Yes. >> Yes. And Council President Sylvester? >> Yes. >> Yes. The ordinance is engrossed and ordained. Calendar item number 13, revocation of chapter 148, license number 651, 22
Naples Road, granted January 24th, 22 for cause. >> Convando. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I see the property owner and the attorney if you guys wouldn't mind just stepping up um to the microphone. I did receive communication from the building commissioner today. They did Lewis
Cavano did another inspection. I thank him for that. Um there was a a small issue with the type of planters. Uh not an issue, but it was kind of a gray area. So it was kind of a decision we all made together that we're we're fine with the planters that are out front. Um
there was no vehicles parked in the fire lane. And um I just I the only thing and I have every intention and I will be tableabling, excuse me, placing this on file tonight. I want this to be over with. Um I just want everyone to leave with understanding two things. Number
one, I want to ensure that we all understand that 20 ft on the left, 20 feet on the right of the property, and 20 ft in the rear is in fact a fire lane. Do we all understand that? >> Yes, we understand that. Thank you.
>> Okay. And so, thank you for that. And the second thing is, do we all understand that violating that special permit condition could find you right back here for another revocation hearing for cause? >> Uh, Mr. President again to uh councel
Kog Vandro. Um yes, we we do we do understand that any um alleged violation could subject us to a hearing, but uh in the future we would appreciate due notice and opportunity to be heard. Uh and I do uh Mr. President, if I may take
the liberty uh to thank Councelor Kaggleando, the ISD and the fire department because it was like hurting cats. um not due to any fault on either side. It's just the schedules um just
happened to collide and uh it was it was a long time coming but uh everyone on the city side acted perfectly professionally. Thank you. >> Thank you councelor Mr. >> uh if unless anyone has anything they'd like to add I would like to place this
on file and be done. >> Thank you councel. Madame clerk, we could place on file. >> Thank you, councelor. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, councelor. >> Appointment subcommittee report. >> Council McKenna.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, tonight we had eight appointments and reappoints at the appointment subcommittee. Uh, we had two in attendance and I spoke with Chief Cullen and Chief Levida. And I would like to vote uh these four appointments
out tonight favorably. Uh Michael Tucker and Lii Manzo. >> Thank you, councelor. Madame clerk, if we can have a roll call. >> Shall the city council confirm the appointments as reported by chairwoman
McKenna? Councelor Aenzio. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Cogleandro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Janino. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Gino SA. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor H. Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Jermo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Kelly. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councel McKenna.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Noveski. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Zambudo. >> Yes. >> Yes. And Council President Sylvester. >> Yes. >> Yes. The appointments have been confirmed. [Applause] >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Next up is the Legislative Affairs Committee report. >> Councelor Jenzio. >> Thank you, Mr. President, we had one uh item before us and it was a motion presented by councelor uh Kuggleandro to move the noise ordinance violations to
40U. It was looked upon favorably uh by the committee and I'd like to call for a roll call to look on it favorably. >> Thank you councel. Madam clerk, >> shall the city council approve an act permitting the city of River to establish penalties and leans for noise
ordinance violations? Councelor Jenzio. >> Yes. Yes. Councelor Cogleandro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Janino. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Garino SA. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hass. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Haramio. >> Present. >> Voting. Present. Councelor Kelly. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council McKenna.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Council Novaski. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Zamudo. >> Yes. >> Yes. And Council President Sylvester. >> Yes. >> Yes. The special act has been approved. >> Communications. Calendar item number 23. Communication from the election commissioner requesting approval of the
November 4th, 2025 municipal election warrant. >> All in favor? All opposed? >> So ordered. >> Calendar item number 24, communication from the city auditor requesting an appropriation from the cable receipt reserve fund to pay Rivera TV's
quarterly invoice. >> Mr. Visque. >> Good evening. Uh Richard Visqueke, 21 Broadway, city CFO. Um this is a quarterly appropriation that um you see pretty much every quarter. Just the transfer of the cable TV money to the
appropriate account so we can pay the vendor. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you. >> Thank you, councel. Madam clerk, if we can roll call. >> Shall the city council approve an appropriation from the cable access receipt reserve fund in the amount of $91,437.19 for the purpose of paying river TV's
quarterly invoice. Councelor Aenzio. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Cogleandro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Ganino. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Gino SA. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hass. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hermo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Kelly. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council McKenna. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Nasellski.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Zambudo. >> Yes. >> Yes. And Council President Sylvester. >> Yes. >> Yes. The appropriation has been approved. Calendar item number 25. Communication from the city auditor requesting an appropriation from the ETP account for
upgrades to agenda and minutes management for all public boards and commissions. >> Good evening. Uh Rich Viske, city CFO. Um this appropriation was approved by the committee that manages those ETP funds and um because those funds are
required to be appropriated by this body. Um it is before you and I recommend favorable action on that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Skate. Do we have any city councilors? Madame clerk, >> shall the city council approve an appropriation from the ETP fund in the
amount of $44,8525 for legisar agenda in minutes software? Councelor Aenzio, >> yes. >> Yes. Council Kogandro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Janino. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Garino SA. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hass. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Haramo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Kelly.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor McKenna. >> Yes. Yes. Council Basilski. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Zamutoo. >> Yes. >> Yes. And Council President Sylvester. >> Yes. >> Yes. The appropriation has been approved. >> Calendar item number 26. Communication
from the city auditor requesting an appropriation from the community improvement trust fund for the replacement of park benches and other improvements to Kimberly Park in Beachmont. >> Mr. Viske. >> Good evening. Uh Richard Visque, 21 Broadway, city CFO. Um the appropriation
speaks for itself. Uh working with um council uh McKenna and the mayor's office. Um we are in favor of this appropriation. Happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you, councelor. Council McKenna. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Well, we we've
been having um a great issue down in um uh Beachmont with homeless and uh people that are gathering there daily. Um and so we had to take out the benches because they
were sleeping there overnight. Um and a lot of them had uh were partially clothed. They were drinking uh and they were urinating and um going in the bathroom in the bushes. So,
we had to take out the benches. So, what this is uh for is to uh get benches that have uh they have in the middle they have a uh um Yes. So, uh people can't sleep on the benches. Thank you.
>> Thank you, counselor. Madame clerk. >> Sorry, Mr. President. Before the vote council, >> uh I just want to point of clarification if I understood right. Uh we are updating the benches
uh so that unhoused people cannot sleep on them. Is that what I'm hearing? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, we're updating the benches. Um councelor McKenna. So the on house people can sleep on them. Okay. >> Council has.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. So I just want to be clear, they they remove the benches and they're updating the benches. >> Um under um Chief Levida's guidance, she suggested that we remove the benches
because we were having a daily problem uh down there. And um if you notice the part where the park is 600 ft or 800 ft are the uh is the Beachmont school and the kids were going through this they
cut through this park. So um under her guidance she said to remove the benches and to uh buy new benches that have uh that arm in the middle so uh people wouldn't sleep there. So that's what we
did. Thank you. That's I was going to I was about to ask how they updated the if they put any kind of bench back. >> No, they haven't put the benches back. The $5,000 is to get new benches that have middle arm in the in Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> So, it would make the park safer. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. President. >> Councelor, >> um I just I' I'd like I I don't know if she's still here. doesn't look like she is, but I'd like to have a conversation um maybe with uh Chief Lvid on this. I'd
just like to know what the alleged crime that u these homeless folks are are charged with um to to prompt the removal of the benches. Um I'd also like to know
>> point of information. I'd also like to know state your point, counselor. >> Uh first of all, um they're drinking um in the park. Uh so they have open uh containers of alcohol. They're not they're partially clothed. Um they're
they're um pooping and peeing in the park. Uh the So I mean I I just And the kids are coming through. So, it's a safety concern, >> Mr. President.
>> Hold on. Hold on. I still have the floor. And the other thing is that um >> Yeah. >> The other thing is that uh I talked to the chief, the chief talked to Chris Chamella, Charamela, and they both decided that this was the best thing.
So, thank you. >> Thank you, councelor Councelor Hermio. >> Mr. President, um thank you for uh yielding back to me. Uh I I wasn't done asking my question for the record, Mr. President. So I I I
really uh Anyway, you're the president, so you'll do what you want. >> Once once a counselor has to say point, they get to state their point. council. >> So, uh the crux of my question is if any citations were given by the police for either indecent exposure,
defecation, intoxication, it sounds like we have uh it sounds, you know, I I know uh the good counselor from Ward One and I know that her intentions are always well placed. Um,
but I'd like to know if we've taken any actual action to site folks uh potentially struggling with mental health issues or substance use issue. Um, what those numbers look like, which is why I'm simply asking that the chief of police uh appear before us again
before we make actual consider take actual action on this on this point. uh so that we know exactly what we're solving for. Um to to prompt the installation of infrastructure that
essentially um you know essentially makes it really hard for people who are homeless. And we just talked about a couple hours about the affordability crisis in the city uh to sleep at a park bench. Um, and so I just I just want that data and then I'm
happy to vote in favor of it, but I I just don't see the the data right now and I and the chief isn't here to answer these questions. So I'd love to hear about them. >> Mr. President, >> this has been going on uh since June. Um it's an everyday thing. Uh we've called
the police. We've had Sudi go down there and take care of um uh these people's needs every single day that we call. So Sudi has been down there. Uh we've had all kinds of uh people that uh get down there and talk to them. Uh counselors,
social workers. Uh >> excuse me. >> Thank you. >> Oh, sorry. So, I mean, we have done the work. Uh it's and it's been an everyday problem. It started off with two people, ended up with 10 people, then it got
bigger and bigger and bigger. So, um I just want uh my counselor to my right to know that we have done the work down there for three months, four months. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Councelor Janino, >> thank you. I think this is I mean I'm
speaking on experience from working that area years ago. I think it's more of a vagrant situation as opposed to a homeless situation. And it's more of a safety concern for the children of the school in that area
for the upgraded benches than a homeless concern based on what I've seen in the past down there. What I've done in the past down there and safety issues. That's basically what I saw.
>> Thank you, councelor. Any other city councilors? Is he good? >> Okay. So, madame clerk, I guess we can have a roll call. >> Shall the city council approve an appropriation from the community
improvement trust fund in the amount of $5,000 for various improvements to Kimmel Park in Beachmont? Councelor Jenzio. Yes. >> Yes. Council Kagglandro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Gino. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Gino SA. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hass. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Councelor Jammo. >> Clerk. Is it too late to table this until we have the point of order? We're in the middle of a roll call. >> No. >> No. Councelor Kelly. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council McKenna. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Naselli?
>> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Zambudo? >> Yes. >> Yes. and council president Sylvestri. >> Yes. >> Yes. The appropriation has been approved. Calendar item number 27 communication from the mayor relative to the reappoint of Lauren Devela as a constable.
>> This should be referred to appointments. >> Calendar item number 28. Communication from the mayor relative to the appointment of Britney Della as a constable for the city of River. Should we be referred to appointments? >> Motions. Calendar item number 29. Motion presented by council McKenna that the
city council order to a public hearing an ordinance further amending title 12 of the river revised ordinances relative to construction procedures for street and sidewalk openings. >> Council McKenna. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh so
um this is going to uh a subcommittee. Um but I want to just talk about National Grid. Uh National Grid has come into our city and has cut strips of roadway and they're leaving what I just found out from uh uh Chris Cher Miller
is they're leaving their old pipes underground. So it's like a graveyard and they have no consequences uh to take them out. So, we have all these old pipes underneath the ground. They're putting their new pipes in, and
after a certain bout of inclement weather and overuse from vehicles, these strips of asphalt that they're just they're just covering where they put their uh work is sinking. Um, a few examples is Wave A and Beachmont,
Northshore Road, Eaton Street, and hundreds of others. With all the money this city and our residents uh are paying this company, it is time to hold National Grid accountable uh for opening up streets and and have them fixed the right way, which is curb
to curb. That is why tonight I'm revealing an ordinance that National Grid should be responsible for fixing any cut cutting of the streets, no matter how big or small it is, curb to curb, or make a donation to the city to do the work.
Thank you. >> Thank you. Councelor, any other counselors? >> Yeah, I think Cogleandro is on. Council >> Cogleandro, >> is he? >> No, but I fully support it. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. This will be audited to a public hearing.
>> Calendar item number 30. Motion presented by councilors McKenna and Novaski that the mayor request mas dod to repave the westbound side of Ver Beach Parkway from Thomas Elaway to the intersection of Route 16. In the interest of public safety, this portion of Rivera Beach Parkway is riddled with
potholes. Council Zamutoo is recused. >> Council McKenna. >> Thank you. I'm going to let um Council Novaski speak because he uh talked to someone today, but I just wanted to say that I didn't want it to be paved. I just wanted the potholes to be fixed. Uh
I don't know what how they're fixing potholes uh these days, but they're it's horrible. So, I'm going to let councelor Novasowski speak on this. >> Council Novasowski. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Through through you to council McKenna. Um, I
drive that road three or four times a day. And that section of the Review Beach Parkway a is the right-hand lane from Woods A down to hillside.
Very bad. Now, I talked to DCR today and they said, you know, the holes really aren't deep enough to retain the asphalt when they put it in. So, I said to them, "Well, can we get it repaved?" He said, "Well, now it goes up to Mass Dot
because that's part of their highway and it's one lane and it's and the main reason for all this happening is because of MWR because that's one of their main lines that uh pump water and take drainage
from the top of the hill from Walnut A. So if DCR really can't fill them the way they can be retained, then we have to ask Mass to repave just that one lane for about 300 ft. So that's that's where
we are and I believe that's what the motion asked for is the repaving uh of that section if I'm correct. >> Thank you councelor. Do we have any other city councilors? So, I would ask that this be approved the way it's written. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor. >> All in favor, all opposed. >> So, ordered. >> Calendar item number 31. Motion presented by councilors McKenna and Kaggleandro that the mayor request the chief financial officer to provide the city council with a comprehensive
accounting of the community improvement trust fund from 2020 to present including but not limited to all receipts and expenditures. >> Council McKenna. Thank you. Uh, this speaks for itself, but if councelor Cogandro wants to speak about it, he can.
>> Councelor Cogleandro. >> Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for the permission, Councelor McKenna. No, I'm just kidding. Um, I actually I do want to make one small amendment to it. I uh if you're agreeable, Councelor McKenna, at the end it says including but not limited to all receipts. After
that, I would like to do comma, expenditures, comma, and current account balances just to make sure that we're thorough in that. Um, just just curious about where the the money that came and gone and all that good stuff. And that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor Councel Kelly. >> Thank you, Mr. President. So, I think this motion is great. In fact, um I made an inquiry to the CFO back in June and in July I did get some balances uh for each account. They were
approximate and they were for um up until March 31st. So if I could just share what those are. Uh, wood one 232,000, wood 2 538,000, wood 3 26,000, wood 4 39,000, wood 526,000,
wood 651,000. And as a followup to that, I did ask for detailed information regarding the accounts, and I have yet to receive that information, which is why I'm in favor of this motion. However, I would like to amend the motion to include that um we
be given this information on a quarterly basis so that the information would come we would have updates regarding the information and it would be a detailed accounting quarterly. Thank you. And I'd like a vote on the motion as amended. Thank you.
>> Any other city councilors? Council Gosa. I love the motion and I've received a bunch of phone calls. So, I did a little bit of homework and I promised the people that called me that I would explain what the CIT funds are all about because a lot of people are asking what
they're about, what we can do with it, why do we have it, and why is it separate. So, if you don't mind, I just want to read a quick paragraph of what I wrote. All right. Um the fund is tied to permitting and development and it's aimed for off offsetting impacts from increased
development. So when a developer obtains a special permit or variance that increases the intensity of the use, for example, if there's more unit, greater height, greater floor area, or building coverage beyond what is allowed by
right, portions of that extra development trigger a required payment into the community development trust fund. The trust fund is held by the city treasurer separate from all other monies in the city. The monies must be spent
only for specific purposes as approved by the mayor and the city council. So what money can be used for, for example, would be infrastructure and public facilities directly impacted by the development, which includes the roads,
the sidewalks, sewer, water, drainage improvements, um that are part of the city's capital improvement plan, recreation and open spaces, athletics programs, fire protection, school building, educational programs, as well
as library improvements. That's what the CIT funds should be used for and are to be used for. So when people ask, oh, what is a CIT fund? Why is it going there? And that's why it's going there
and I just wanted to be um transparent with the people that did call me. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Cando. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um councelor Kelly, that's a great idea. Councelor Garino SA, thank you very much for explaining that to the public. Uh, are we sure quarterly is the consistency
that we want? Do we do do we want to talk I mean do I'm just thinking about since development is what I hope we don't have a change every 3 months. Um, you know what I mean? >> I don't know. I think I think building permits get pulled periodically for
different projects and I I don't know. >> Yeah. I mean we could start there and if it's too much or we could change it. Sure. So I I I did u through you Mr. President to the clerk. I don't know if you put something down. I kind of jotted something down here. Um I'm sure you have it though. So
>> to to receive the reports on a quarterly basis from the CIT fund >> I did I have that and current account balances and that was by club leandro further from councelor Kelly that the reports are sent to the council on a quarterly basis. >> Perfect.
>> Thank you. As amended all in favor all opposed. So ordered >> calendar item number 32 motion presented by councilors McKenna and Kaggleandro that the mayor request Masdot to appear before the city council to provide a comprehensive overview in full scope of
plan worked on work on Harris Street and the surrounding area. Further that the city engineer DPW superintendent and city planner be present at this meeting to offer additional context and address related concerns. Council Zamb is recused. >> Council McKenna.
>> Thank you Mr. President. Um my biggest fear is when Masdot and the city of Rivier decided on what was going to happen to Harris Street. The change is going to going to inundate a quiet neighborhood like Sul Street, Butler
Street, Library Street, Bixby Street, and Elm Street. These streets have no sidewalks right now. Residents and children walk and play in the street. If Harris Street is made a oneway or or a oneway and a half, I don't even know
what they're doing. Uh this will be a cutthrough for cars to get to their destinations. An app like Ways will take cars and trucks through these quiet streets as shortcuts. A year ago years a year ago in this chamber chambers, a
public hearing on Harris Street was the topic. Many residents came to find out what was going to happen. As a result, the city of Masdat was supposed to hold public meetings. Nothing was done. Not even the ward counselors were informed.
Now the work has begun and I'm asking for clarity. Inform the residents and the ward counselors with what will be happening. It's about communication. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Council Gandro, >> I think Mast needs to mind their
business when it comes to River's streets. >> I agree. End of story. Stop telling us what you're what we're supposed to do to help you. You're doing all these changes to feed Suffach Downs or to to benefit Suffach Downs in some way. And all you're doing is you are going to kill
that neighborhood with traffic. You're going to absolutely kill it. Stop telling us what to do with our streets. Come before us. Tell us what your plans are. And you have you have a say over the state roads. That's fine. Leave the city roads alone. That's up to us. Thank
you. Thank you, councelor. Any other city councilors permission to speak? >> Um, I I actually live right right by there on on the Parkway. And um I I hear your concerns. I have them too as I
drive by there every day. I I think it's a little bit too late. They've already made a turn that comes north. If you're going from like Bell Circle towards Chelsea, there's already a a turn that can only go to Harris Street from that
turn. And um the the islands already built in and um so I I don't I agree that we need uh DOT to come up here and explain. I I don't know if it's too late. That's all. >> Mr. President, >> Mr. President Oh, go ahead. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. C. So, it's supposed
to be a 90day uh condition. Uh, so I h, you know, if it doesn't work in 90 days, I don't know what they're going to do. But my concern is those quiet neighborhoods that don't have sidewalks that it's going to be a cutth through. And what I'm hearing is it's going to be
one way all the way down to Beach Street and then a half a quarter of the way to Sul. >> So all those all those people are going to cut through Sul. And you know, I mean, it's going to inundate the poor this poor quiet neighborhood with no
sidewalks and the kids playing in the streets. Cars come around the corner, you know, how fast they go. So, it is a safety issue, too. >> Absolutely. >> So, uh that's that's my concern and that's uh co um councelor Cogleandro's concern too. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Council Cogando. >> She hit the nail on the head. Um they they I feel like what's supposed to go on there has changed and nobody seems to have the answer on what's actually going on with
the traffic patterns in that street. Leave it alone. Otherwise, you are going to send every vehicle down Sul Street. Su street. I don't know if anyone has tried to turn down there off of that intersection or from the other way. It's two-sided parking and I I don't even
know how they can fit an apparatus down there at the beginning of that street. It's so hard to get down there. You are going to inundate all the streets that council McKenna just said. I don't want to go through them again, but they owe us an explanation and we are the ones who should have a say over the the oneways, the stop signs, the do
everything. So, I hope that they hear us and I hope that they actually come because it would be a disservice to this city and the people that live in that area if they don't. Thank you. Thank you, councelor. All in favor, all opposed. >> So ordered. >> Calendar item number 33. Motion
presented by councelor Go Sua that the mayor request National Grid to immediately repair the trench that runs from John Avenue across the highway to 190 Northshore Road. The trench was created following utility work conducted under a Mass DOT highway access permit. Since that work, the trench has remained
in a state of disrepair and is causing significant disruption to nearby residents. Council Gino. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, after completing the utility work under the mass dot permit, National Grid left behind a trench that causes loud banging
every single time a a car or a truck drives by and the ground shaking um when the vehicles pass. I've heard several complaints from the residents over in Riverside. Um and Mash Dodd has confirmed that they've asked
National Grid multiple times to fix it and with no results. So this is completely unacceptable and the residents shouldn't have their lives completely disrupted the way on a daily basis the way it has been from a road left behind and left in poor condition.
Um I'm asking that National Grid be held responsible and complete the repairs immediately in line with the Mass DOT standards. and I think the mayor has already contacted them and I'm praying that this actually um gets repeated ASAP because it's been a long time coming.
Thank you. >> Thank you counselor. Any other counselors permission to speak? >> So uh I did actually get in contact with DOT. They did send out a u a
representative, went to uh a resident's home, spoke with the resident DOT, decided it was, as the councelor said, on um National Grid, National Grid sent someone down and they made a
determination that it's not sufficient enough for them to do the repair. Um that was as of two weeks ago. So, I'm hoping with maybe this motion or whatever we can have forward, DOT will step up our our national grid. Um, I just wanted to update you on that
information. All in favor, all opposed. So, ordered. >> Calendar item number 34. Calendar item number 34. Motion presented by councelor Kelly that the mayor be requested to increase the discounts offered through the 2026 water
and source senior discount program for qualifying applicants by 10% accordingly. 40% for consumption of up to 30,000 gallons, 30% for consumption from 30,01 gallons up to 70,000 gallons
and 20% for consumption of 70,01 gallons or more. >> Council Kelly. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, this is just trying to again give the seniors another little bit. Um, anything we can do to help them with the
um, burdening bills that they're being faced with. Um, the 10% came from the recent water increase um, that took place. So, it's it's trying to offset that. It's not going to correlate 100%,
but it will it will be a step in the right direction. I did speak to the water department about this. I spoke to Mr. Visque about this. Um and they had about a thousand qualifying applicants last year. Uh Mr. Visque did not seem to think that this would be something that
would be out of the question. Um, as an aside, I also want to point out that I did speak to him about getting the exterior water um, deduct meters for qualifying seniors covered under the SE senior home improvement fund. And I'm
getting details on that as well, which will be another help. But I think for now, um, if we could look at this motion, whether it be in Ways and Means or if it be the will of the council to vote on it tonight. Um, if it should go to Ways and Means, I just ask that it be
the meeting take place rather quickly so we can try to get this underway because they they can use any and all help that they can get and this has there hasn't been an increase in this from speaking to the water department in quite some time. So, thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other city
councilors? >> All in favor? All opposed? >> So ordered. >> Calendar item number 35. Motion presented by councilors Kelly and Cogleandro that the mayor request the election department to reinstate the Lincoln school as a polling location
beginning with the 2027 elections. >> Councelor Kelly, >> thank you. Um, this is just something that I've heard from a number of residents in Ward 3 that used to vote at the Lincoln school and it was very convenient for them and I contacted cog
um, councelor Cogleandro being his ward and I asked why this change was made and he said he thought it was done something done during COVID and the restrictions that were in place during CO. So after speaking to council Kaggleandro,
we thought it was a good idea that maybe we try to reinstate the Lincoln School as a voting location in the future. Of course, it it couldn't be done for this election, but surely maybe, you know, for the 2027 election, we could bring that location back. Um the seniors in
particular have a difficult time getting to the high school to vote. It's difficult for them to even just make the drive there to try to find parking there to walk from the parking lot to the high school. So, this would be a much more convenient location and I'm hoping that we can bring it back. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Cogandro. >> Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Councelor Kelly, for keeping me in the loop on this. I I appreciate it. Um I tried to file something on this a couple of years back but it is true that during co we did some condensing of the polling
locations. Um I mean also the other thing to take into consideration is that the map changed specifically ward three and five did a huge precinct flip and that's where the high school came into play. Uh but to councelor Kelly's point, there's a lot of seniors, a lot of
people who don't want to cross Broadway to go vote, and I think that this could improve uh the voter turnout in this city. Uh that is has been incredibly low. Um so I appreciate you bringing this up and and hope you guys will support it. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? Council McKenna. >> I think this is a great motion. Um, I just I've heard from a number of people that live in Ward 3 and they don't they said they don't vote. They don't they won't go down to the high school and
vote. So, I think this is a great motion. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? All in favor? All opposed? So, ordered. >> Calendar item number 37. Motion presented by councelor Gino Sua that the city council order to a public hearing
an ordinance further amending the rea revised ordinances relative to the affordable housing trust fund. >> Council go. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, the ordinance amendment strengthens the oversight and accountability in the sale
of the transfer to city owned properties by requiring the city council's approval based on formal recommendation from C key city departments and commissions. By involving the city department, um the planning department, conservation commission, building inspector,
engineering department, board of health, treasurer, and assessors, the city ensures that each transaction aligns with zoning laws, environmental protections, health and safety standards, financial obligations, and fair market value assessment. This
collaborative multi-EP departmental review process promotes transparency and this is what people are looking for. It promotes public access and ensures that any disposition of property particularly those affecting affordable housing
serves the longterm interest for the residents of Rever. So, for example, this past week something went up um on Glattis Street, I think it was, or Glendale Street, and I got I want to say
10 phone calls regarding, oh my god, they're selling a piece of property. What are they going to build there? No, they can't build on it because it's it's not buildable lot, but they didn't the people, the residents, all they did is they saw it and they didn't know what it was about. So, they were nervous that
something was going to go there, but it the the next door neighbor could buy it and and, you know, make his lot a little bit bigger, but they're not understanding that some some of the parcels that are city owned are not buildable. And what I'm trying to do is
make sure that every department comes and explains what we can, what we can't do. and and and we we know that we're being honest and we're being transparent to the residents of the city. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? >> On f uh this will be ordered to a public hearing on October 27th. >> Calendar item number 38, motion presented by councelor Gino SAB that the city council ordered to a public
hearing. An ordinance further amending title 12 and title 17 of the rea revised ordinances relative to overhanging signs and storefront sign maintenance. >> Council Green. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um again, this is another motion brought to me by um a
resident of W 5. Um this motion is about accountability and presentation. For example, I got a bunch of pictures sent to me of all the businesses on Riviera Street. Um, and actually there was a couple that were on Broadway as well.
Um, River Street and other commercial uh, and our other commercial corridors are gateways to the city. When signage is neglected, faded, broken, or fallen apart. It doesn't just reflect poorly on
the business, it reflects poorly on our community as a whole. Um, we already have we already regulate signage through permitting, but what we lack is a clear requirement for ongoing upkeep. This amendment would ensure that businesses
business signs are properly maintained with a fair process in place, notice to property owners, reasonable time to correct the issue, and enforcement only if the problem remains. It's about protecting the safety, character, and appearance of our neighborhoods while
holding businesses to a responsible standard. Um, I spoke to a couple of businesses that I saw that the assigns were all dilapitated and I've already told them that this motion was going in and that I I gave
them, you know, a a little bit of a warning ahead of time and they were actually, "Oh, yeah, we were planning on doing it. we're going to get it done ASAP, which to me means a lot that they do want to take care of the city. So, this is basically what this motion is
about. I want people to care. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? Councelor Kaggleano. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um through you to councelor Gino SA. What is the how what what um I guess what I'm trying
to say is when you look at a sign, how do who is going to judge if it needs to be replaced and what what criteria are they going to use? And I'm just asking because I own a small business, we take care of our property, we take care of the sign, but you know, if a tornado, for instance, touches down and
the business might not be doing good, are we going to force them to spend the money? So, I'm just curious what what we're going to look for in saying you need to replace that sort of thing. >> Well, that would come from Michael Wells. I've already spoken spoken to him about it. Um there there wasn't an
enforcement in place. And if you look at, for example, um next to your business, there's the recording studio. All all those all those letters that are on their sign are missing. So
those should all be either taken off or they should be replaced because it aesthetically it looks horrible and you know when people are driving through it's a reflection on the city of Rivier and it it looks like we don't care when we do.
So I just want them to keep up with their property just like I would expect me to keep up with my property and make it look aesthetically pleasing. >> Well um Mr. President you um will in uh director Wells have something in writing
do you think by the public hearing that we can view? Um I know like next door to us this one stop variety or one stop I forget what the name is. I'm there every day. Um they just replace their awnings too. They just did a really good job on it. So I just as long as there's something fair in place that's all
because there's a lot of businesses in the city that are struggling. Um I'm just trying to look out for them. So that's all. Thank you. >> Thank you counselor. This will be ordered to a public hearing October 27th. >> Late motion presented by Council President Sylvester that the city
council award certificates of merit to Sergeant Shawn Matthews, Sergeant Keith Lesnar, and Officer Orion Kong of the River Police Department for their selfless actions on August 19th of 25 to run into a burning building prior to the arrival of the River Fire Department to
ensure that all occupants were safely evacuated. Uh this motion speaks for itself. Um I will hold my uh comments till the night of the presentation. Um I appreciate your support on this. All in favor? All
opposed? >> So ordered. Um Councelor Novasowski, you have a point of personal privilege. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh Mr. President to everybody that is watching tonight and that's here tonight. Um the last meeting I wish everybody a Jewish
happy new year which I thank everybody for you know referring to that to me as they saw me. Uh but uh this coming uh Thursday is the highest holiday of the Jewish religion called Yumkipper or the
day of atonement. And this is where uh your name is in the good book or the bad book. So, but I want and we have to fast. This is the one of the days that we fast for 26 hours. >> So, I just want to uh thank everybody for their thoughts and I want to wish
all my Jewish friends a uh safe and easy fast. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Council McKenna, you have a point of personal privilege. >> Thank you. Um I'd like to do a point of personal privilege. Um moment of
silence. Uh this week uh Beachmont lost one of our matriarchs, Diane Anziada. Uh Diane Ananziata lived in Beachmore for over 65 years and I would like to take a moment of silence to honor Diane and her family. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Council. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. And that closes tonight's business. We'll see you next Monday.