Good morning everyone. Uh, welcome to the June 10th Ways and Means Subcommittee budget hearing. Please rise to salute the flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. >> Welcome of the members. Councelor Agenzio >> here. >> Here. Council McKenna >> here. >> Here. Council Mccurio >> here. >> Here. Councelor Noasilski is absent >> and chairman Kagglandro >> here. >> Here. Quorum is present.
>> Good morning everyone. Thank you for being here. Just a reminder uh we are here to discuss budgetary items. Um, uh, no need for mission statements and, uh, the council knows the rules, I believe. So, no, no bouquet throwing and no
non-budgetary questions. I don't don't be asking Zack about parking tickets and, uh, and that's about it. So, um, we are going to get started. Uh, first up is municipal inspections. Municipal Inspections. Come on up. That's page 68.
>> Morning, sir. Name and address for the record, please. >> Good morning, counselors. Michael Wells, director of municipal inspections, city rever 249R Broadway. >> Good morning. Uh FY27 budget, pretty lean. Um, no change from last year.
Uh, same staffing levels, no increase, no decrease. Any questions? >> Thank you, sir. Counselors, councelor Aenzio. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Wells. I just want to say, uh, your department does a great job, and you do
a great job. Uh I know most people that interact with city officers when they interact with yours is a lot of times it's negative. I know because you're in the enforcement arm of the uh you know of the city. Um a lot of people are are building at will here and you're trying to keep up with it with the same amount
of uh uh employees. So great job. >> Uh I really don't have any questions. Uh much as it kills me. Let's see. I'm pretty good uh with questions. I'm all set. Thank you, counselor. Councelor McKenna, >> thank you. I know there's no bouquets
today, but I'm going to throw one to you because I love you >> and we we go back a long way. You were my student and then >> now you're the director and every time I call you, you help me with anything that I need. So, I just want to thank you.
>> My pleasure. Thank you. >> Any other counselors? >> Go ahead, counselor. I I I think I think that rules out the window. >> I got reprimmended for throwing bouquets yesterday, but Michael, you do a great job. It's a tough position to be in. Uh
but uh you always answer the call and uh your department does a great job. So, keep up the good work and uh look forward to working with you in in the near future. >> Appreciate it. Thank you so much. >> I echo everything they've said. Thank you for everything you do for us. Appreciate you. And uh you're all set.
Have a great day. Next up is library. Library is page 106. >> Good morning. Name and address for the record, please.
>> Name and address for the record. >> Diana Lango from the library, 179 Beach Street. >> Welcome. Is there anything uh in the budget that you need to explain or >> I don't think so. It's pretty clear level. >> Perfect. Any counselors have any
questions? Councelor Arenzio. >> Thank you. Um and thank you Diana for coming. Uh libraryies come a long way, you know, in the last few years. Uh and it it really has improved. Um I just have one question. in uh new equipment
uh for FY26 in the third quarter. It says 86,000 about $86,000. What was Do you know what that was for? >> I'm pretty sure that was the balance of the bookmobile payment that we had >> for the upcoming year.
>> No, it in FY26, the third quarter. It's Is that the bookmobile? Uh >> what was the total? >> Uh just shy of 86,000. Yes, it was the second half final payment for the bookmobile. >> Okay. And the bookmobile, did you get a grant for that or >> part part grant part uh city funded
which was that part. >> Okay, great. That's the only question I had. >> Yep. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other counselors? >> Have a great day. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Workforce development. That is page 103.
Good morning, sir. Name and address for the record, please. >> Good morning. Uh, Jerry Viscante, 281 Broadway, Workforce Development, Labor Relations, and Youth Engagement. Um, morning, counselors. Mr. Chair,
uh, I guess it's, uh, you can take a look at it. It's pretty lean. Um, really not too much to it. Um, if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer. >> Thank you, sir. Any counselors have questions? Yeah,
>> councelor Arenzio. >> So, the salary portion, you still have six months of APA, right, that we're >> I believe so. >> Okay, great. And then that falls away uh January 1st. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other counselors?
Have a great day, sir. Thank you. >> Police Department Chief. Morning, Chief of Police. >> Sorry, page 55, everyone. Good morning, Chief. Sorry about that. >> Yep. 400 River Beach Parkway. >> So, um I I think we're we did a little
better than level level funded. Um we increased our overall staffing for sworn from 112 to 114. So, we're continuing to to work to get up to that number with um
with working sworn officers. if anybody has any specific questions. >> Thank you very much, Chief. Uh, welcome, Councelor Novaski. Any counselors have questions? >> Councelor Arenzia. >> Thank you, Chief. Um, the PAL funding, I
know that, uh, grant fell away last year. Is that still surviving? >> So, uh, PAL is funded through the Shannon grant. >> Okay. >> Um, and there's there's a couple different levels to the Shannon grant. one of which um PAL
applies in and of itself as an organization and then we have some Shannon grant funding for sworn police officers. Okay. >> To um basically we divide it into some enforcement and some engagement. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you councelor Councel McKenna. when council I have such a loud voice they could probably hear it without the microphone but uh when councelor mccurio and I call for the unhoused uh down at Beachmont Square I mean it's ridiculous what's happening down there uh but I just want to thank you for responding
every time we call thank you >> thank you counselor any other counselors councel mccurio >> u thank you for being here chief Sure. >> Um, did you make cuts uh recently with uh for three uh
>> I'm I'm trying to think of the name of the people >> BHU. >> Yes. >> Uh so what what happened was we had grant funding. >> Yes. >> Um that we had for a couple of years u different funding sources um to support the model that was launched a couple of
years ago. Okay. So when when grant funding um started to take a different turn as grant funding traditionally does, uh we we changed our BHU style to match what the state was offering for
grant funding. So the the program is still in effect in a now what's called a co-response model where we have clinicians um M's level clinicians riding in patrol cars with officers. So, it's more of a um immediate response
rather than the follow-up model that we had done in the past. >> Okay. So, we're going to get you're going to refund uh looking for another grant for that to continue that program >> to continue the the follow-up. >> Yes. >> Um we are still looking for grants. Um
I'm going to be honest. I've been, you know, kind of keeping an eye along with the captain in charge of of um the shift in that model. And right now um the current model that we have with the co-response we are expanding that okay because it's successful.
>> Okay. >> So as far as the followup goes um we're working with public health to try and make sure that nobody falls through the cracks after that initial response. Um right now we've been supplementing that with sworn officers going out and um
conducting some of these follow-ups. So, um, we're working hard to make sure that, you know, things don't fall through the cracks as we take advantage of the new model, um, with co-response. >> Okay. And what was that grant for? How much was that grant for?
>> Uh, the EAPS grant, I I'd have to look. Okay. >> So, it was I I don't quote me. Probably around 200,000. Um, and that was for uh two like a full-time office manager >> and um one social worker.
>> Okay. >> And then from there, you know, some of the grant was used also for things like um almost like go bags, right? Like toothbrushes, soaps, and things like that for them to to hand out. Um, and they work in conjunction with with Sudi
for uh we we opened the substation in coordination with Sudi to um to have these drop in hours for people in need that needed to come in and um get resources. >> Great. Thank you. Well, hopefully we can get some uh grant money and keep that program up and running because it's it's
definitely important for the in the city. But thank you very much, Chief. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other counselors? >> Permission to speak from the chair. Thank you. Uh Chief, there was mention of the the bus stop arm cameras. >> Um >> yes. >> Do we know when those may come online
and are those going to be grant funded or will they hit the the general fund? >> Um I'd have to get back to you on that. We had a couple of meetings several months back um vetting companies that actually will um implement that technology and we're work we're going to
work through working with parking department as to um how what that will look like when we roll it out. >> Can't wait for that to happen. Uh if there's no other questions, Chief, you're all set. Have a great day. >> Thank you. >> Next up is the fire department. Chief
Oh, I'm sorry. Chief uh Levita, are you gonna speak for the regional communication center or Richie is going to Okay. Also, thank you. Chief Cullen, uh fire department is on page 61. Good morning, sir. >> Good morning. James Cullen, fire chief,
400 Broadway. Uh so this year um uh we're going up a few positions um to 122 um uniformed uh firefighters. Uh it's a few more than last year. So we're uh thankful for that. Um most of the other line items are pretty much level funded.
It's it's a lean budget as you know all across the board and we'll do the best we can. >> Thank you chief. Open to the counselors. Any questions? Councelor Argenzio. >> Thank you. Thank you chief uh for coming. Um the Point of Pines Fire Station, uh is that fully staffed? Are
you having any problem staffing that or? >> Oh, so uh when we opened it, um last year in July, uh we did have to thin out some of the manpower across the other districts to fund that. Uh so, uh I mean, our goal, our overall goal to to really fund the the entire department is
to reach 130 members at some point. And so, we're working towards that. We're getting a few more this year and hopefully we continue on that trend. and uh but but that is kind of the number we're going to have to get to to to uh to staff to standards to the NFPA standards across the board. We are
finding we're operating a little less than ideal but we are open and fully uh operating every day. >> Okay. And the um the condition of the Freeman Street Fire Station is that how are we making is that >> well it's 100 years old.
>> Yeah, it's over 100 years old. I think it was 1912 somewhere around there. Uh so you know it is it is still operational and it it is our most important station in in the city as far as location. It is a tough station to get in and out of >> but uh it is our our best location.
That's a second due pump to all uh you know reports of fire and um so we have to keep that viable. Uh we we are looking at um we had some engineers down um through um Chris Charmelus had some engineering services down there to look at uh the main issue is the floor the
apparatus floor needs work. >> Okay. >> And um so o over the next few years we'll have to put a little bit of money into keeping it going. Um you know and uh the long range plan would be e uh ideally would be to replace it in the area somewhere if we could do that. But
um you know there are other other options to put some money into it and and rehab the station and keep it as is and just put some uh needed repairs into it. But uh that that is very important to us and u and our operation. >> Thank you very much. I'm all set, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you counselor. Any other
counselors? Councelor Mccurio. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh thank you, Chief, for being here. We appreciate just a couple of questions. fiscal year 2026 in the third quarter your overtime was 1,126,000 and then you put in for 550,000
for this coming fiscal year. >> Yes, >> it's quite a bit of a drop there. Can you explain that a little bit please? >> Well, that I can help >> miss uh councelor mccurio if I may. Um go ahead. I I was going to try to comment during councelor Arenzio, but um
one of the challenges of staffing point of pines is the fact that we don't have as many firefighters as we need. So we've essentially been backfilling that station with overtime as well. So while everyone would love to have that type of budget every year, right now we're
basically deficit spending overtime to um until we get the manpower to uh staff that fully. Like the chief said, we're shooting for 130 firefighters. we're going up two this year and then as budget restrictions allow we're trying to get up there and the increased personnel will drop that overtime line
down. So we we we up the overtime this year. I believe the 540,000 but this is a bit of a atypical overtime year because that station was new and we really we had some long-term injuries, we had some retirements and we had some uh staffing that we we we're ramping up to to bring that number down.
>> Your current staffing is right right now? Uh currently today we're at 117. You had a recent retirement. We have more retirements coming this summer. We're uh so we're hiring 10 overall and and that will bring us to our 122 with retirements that have been going on and
planned u in the near future. So that's what we're going to settle out. >> And what would be a comfortable staffing for you for the fire department? Where would you like to be? >> I'd like to be at 130. Would >> 130 be comfortable? Okay. >> The right number. >> All right. Thank you, Chief. I appreciate it. Keep up all the good work and hard work that you do for the city. We appreciate it.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other counselors? Have a great day, chief. Thank you. Next up will be parks and wreck in the H center. That is pages 109. And the wellness
center is on 112. Good morning, sir. >> Good morning, everyone. >> Hi. want us to just jump right into questions or >> you said no statement. You want a statement? >> Uh if there's anything budgetary that
you would like to explain, uh please do. We don't need mission statements or you know future goals or anything like that. And just for the record, if any departments are listening and you do want to do something like that, please file a communication to the clerk. We'd happy happy to have you do a presentation at the council. >> Yeah.
No, I'm good. >> Great. Well, let's open it up to counselors. Any counselors with questions? >> Councelor Arenzio. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Michael. Um, my first question is about the Garfield pool. Um, I got the uh
numbers for the revolving accounts. Uh, you you manage that, right? >> Correct. The pool. Okay. So, like I know um revenues were almost 130,000, expenses were 121,000. Sounds like a lot's going on there. Does a salary come out of that
uh revolving account? Um yeah, on the um parks and wreck, you'll see um oh, you may not see it, but we collapsed it. Um it's all it's staffed by part-time staff and all part all the salaries. Um, again, we don't have a full-time staff there, but all the all the um wages come right out of
the revolving fund. Correct. >> Okay. What do you hold classes there or what what happens? >> We we Yes, we we have swim lessons. >> Okay. >> Um we're open five days a week down there. Um lifeguard, swim instructors, cleaning crews, all that comes out of
the revolving account. >> Okay. So our our goal as always um we finally have it at at uh we're a little past break even right now. >> Right. Okay. That's good. >> So you know working with the school department I think there that pool has
some serious upgrades that need to be done. Heater goes down on us quite often. So um we're trying to get to a level that uh we have a few extra dollars left over to start making some improvements down there. >> Okay. And then uh just one question about the wellness center. I know our
our goal is to become a full cost recovery. Um and I understand APA funds have dropped away. Um but I think you're still asking for some appropriated money uh a little bit more than than last year
and that's specifically for salaries. >> Specifically for salaries. Correct. >> Just one thing I noticed I want to thank you and Mr. Pella for sending the um information every month. Um I just went back to October and you had uh I believe
2330 active members and then as of a few days ago you had 2,445 an increase of 115. And I know in your report um there's always you're having 70 100
120 new signups every month. So I mean that leads me to believe that there's almost that same amount leaving >> or or cancelling is am I reading that correctly? >> Uh yes and no. So the if you go back to
October October we changed softwares. Um our previous software wasn't quite as robust as the one that we have now purchased. Um when we were giving you those numbers um we had about 450
it was inaccurate. So we had about 450 members that were no show no pays that were still showing up as active memberships. All right. So when we were calculating the money I think Joey would put an estimate of how much money we were taking in. That estimate was about
$10,000 a month less than what we were actually taking in. That's kind of how we all caught it once the once we got rid of those 450 members. Um so think of it so between say November 1st and now we haven't just gained 150
members, we've gained 450 plus 150. So we had dropped all the way down to about 2,000 members. So at that at November 1st. So we're we've gained about 450 members since November 1st. Yeah. 2445 as of today is accurate.
>> Correct. I think the number was 51 as of this morning. 2451. >> Yes. Do you do you feel as though you've reached kind of like a glass ceiling with with the >> We have not reached the glass ceiling. >> Okay. >> Yes. And while we while we do drop members who don't show up, I mean that's
part of the >> right gym scene, you know, people sign up gunho, okay? >> They leave a few months later. Um, but every day we are taking in, you know, March we took in 178 new members.
We may have lost a hundred, but we're that's the kind of gains that we have every month. >> Okay. Now, I I noticed well, I know when we first started, you had a consultant um that did a market study um and they were specifically experts in the gym and
fitness business. Do you do you think it behooves us to uh maybe call them back and maybe they can review the last few years and maybe uh give some suggestions as to
because we want to get appropriated money out of here. Obviously, we don't want taxpayer money going there. Maybe they have some suggestions or they could do a review of what's what's gone on over the last few years. I think I think you've always asked for that magic number. Right. >> Right.
>> Um we are extremely close to that magic number right now. >> Okay. >> Um this 300,000 that we're asking for is is just the cushion for one more year that that we're looking for. Um again when
you do the math at 2450 membershow >> um you know we are taking in uh about 900,000 a year. >> Okay. >> Like we're very we're very close to to being there. >> Um and growing every day. So um that
cushion I think is is just going to help us get through. If we don't use all the money, we'll certainly give it back to um the general fund at the end of the year. Oh, so there is potential that we may not have to spend that appropriated money. That >> that that is correct.
>> Yes, council. Just to follow up on that, that's exactly the plan. We only staffed I we only funded staffing. So any cuts would be cuts to staffing and now that we set up the revolving fund for fiscal year 27. If the funds are sufficient to
cover all staffing and expenses, then that money will be reverted back to the general fund. So So that's there as a placeholder. We we plan on using it now, but as we monitor the new revolving fund, if the funds are there to pay all the staffing, then those funds will remain there.
>> Okay. Is some of the staffing still on opera? Is that going to fall? >> This is exactly the same thing. So, we have um four of the full-time there's four full-time people and uh they're all half opera funded and half general fund and then the rest is part-time uh employees.
>> Okay. Thank you. I'm all set. >> Thank you, Michael. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Welcome, President Zambudo. And the floor is councelor McKinnus. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, so in March, uh, councelor Go Suire and I put
a motion in for autistic, uh, children to have swim lessons in Ree at U, the Garfield Pool. Yep. >> Um I don't know if that was discussed with you, but um we are starting to receive funds to um have these swim
lessons available. Uh we got some we got a $1,000 from Floramos and Rorow Row Row wants to donate some money. So how much do you think first of all would you be in favor of that? >> Uh I'm in favor of >> once a week.
>> Yes. I'm in favor of all programming that that helps everybody. So it it >> I mean they really need it because they're attracted to water and and most of them can't swim. >> Yes, it I don't want to call it a
grassroots program, but um we are down there with a part-time staff, right, >> so to speak. Um >> and my biggest concern is that we need to make sure that we have some people trained. So we have found some classes
that um will allow us to um handle these situations um and classes >> right >> and for them to be taught properly. And how much how much do you think you would need say for a year >> uh or you know couple six months or um
you know just off your head you know I don't care >> I would just say that it would probably be somewhere an additional cost between $6 and $8,000. I would I would probably say >> you could probably get that. Okay.
>> Yeah. just, you know, and again, it it's >> it's our program. If we can encompass it into into what we're doing, um, great. If you're trying to provide that as a free program, >> no, >> then that's, you know, it if if they're
going to pay, then I won't need as much money. I just I really need it to train. You know, we'd like at least three or four >> Sure. of our lifeguard swim instructors trained in that. >> Right. Well, we are trying to have this
funded. So, uh we are getting donations. So, >> and and and in the meantime, um we are sending at least one person out to be to be trained. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. >> And she'll h and she will handle all the one-on- ones.
>> Okay. Thanks a lot. >> Of course. Thank you, counselor. Councelor Mccurio. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh thank you for being here, Michael. Appreciate it. Um, under uh field maintenance, you have 132,000 and is that almost all uh contracted work. Can you explain that a little bit, please?
>> Sure. 122,000 is part of the landscape contract uh that we have right now. Um there's an additional 10,000 that was put in there for um stuff that parks and recreation was paying for out of the revolving account
that were bills that we were never paying for before. Fertilizing um as an example is one of them. I have it somewhere. So, yes, we have an additional 10,000.
Um, uh, we have turf repairs this year that synthetic turf repairs. So, at the stadium, we paid almost $12,000 for the year just in turf repairs. Hash marks come up. Um, so we asked for a little bit of money for
that. Um, fertilizing came to about $5,200. We had Dura Edge, um, which is dirt at the high school and at Garfield. Uh, that comes in at about
$4,000 every year for those loads. Um, and then we paid for uh we paid about $8,000 for regular dirt for all the rest of the fields. >> Yeah. So, just to help round that out, it's um to you the 10,000 is basically
when we have landscaping contracts if there's things that weren't encompassed in there. Sometimes we get these supplemental bills, you know, like Michael said, for fertilizer, for weeds, for things that don't come up as part of that 12-month contract. So, uh, Michael does a great job paying for a lot of these, uh, costs out of his revolving
fund, but when it just comes to these, you know, when you budget for $122 for a landscape contract and then they add in a couple of extras, you kind of start scrambling for where you get these extra dollars. So, the idea was just to kind of help supplement that landscaping contract. I know Michael and his crew do
a lot of work on the infields dragging the fields and some of those supplies they pay out of the revolving fund but this is more those kind of the ancillary uh costs of things that come up as one offs through the landscaping contract as well. >> Okay, great. >> And does
I was >> and does that include uh deodorizing the artificial turf? Is there a line item for that or is that all included in the 122,000? No, that's >> maintenance of the artificial turf bolt down at the >> Yeah, that's part of the 12,000 that we we bring somebody in twice a year.
>> Twice a year. >> Um he came in four times this year. >> Twice just to do repairs. >> Twice to do repairs. >> Yeah. Like just prior to um say the Thanksgiving Day game, you know, we kind of went out there. It the the wear and
tear of the stadium. It's a heavy heavy heavy use facility. Um and and it's almost at its end of life, believe it or not. >> Yeah. Sure. >> 10 years later. Y >> 10 years later. So we should be anticipating a cost to repair that in
the future years ahead. >> Uh yes. >> Yeah. >> Correct. >> Okay. Great. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, Councelor. President Zambo. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My apologies uh to you, the committee, and everybody here for being late.
And I know I'm picking up in the middle of this, but uh so am I to understand that the Health and Wellness Center is considered fully funding fully funded if
not next year by the next year. Is that what we're saying here? Or >> we're hoping it's this year, council, because we created the revolving fund for fiscal year 27. Um the money that's appropriated for the wellness center is strictly salaries. If those salaries can
be covered through the revolving fund then the appropriation request will be turned back in fiscal year okay 27. So we just didn't feel like you know if if we reduce that budget we reduce position. So >> I get it. So if it if it is covered so then we're then we're saying that we
should never have to worry past this year. >> That's correct. That's what we're hoping for. Yes sir. >> That's what we all hope for. >> Yes sir. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. That's the only question I have, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Council McKenna. >> Thank you. I'm just following up on the
turf. Um I I know you came a couple of maybe a year ago and said that kids were damaging. They were cutting the turf and and is that still happening? I I know we talk a lot about um free
play, you know, that we have some space available. Um >> when we do have that and we don't have rentals, that's when most of the damage is happening, >> right, >> at >> Yep. >> at the stadium. So, >> okay, >> you know, we
kids will take down, you know, at the stadium, they'll take their blankets, they'll they'll go get food. We're talking chicken, rice, leave it kind of on the stadium. Um, and then they start picking at hash marks or whatever lines or stuff like that. Now, it's not always
them, you know, just it's just wear and tear where we're at right now with the facility. >> Um, I think if you go down there, you'll see that the crumb rubber has come um almost all the way to the top. And that's due to the top one inch of the
fiber, the the green grass fiber um is all starting to cut and break away. So in any synthetic turf, when you start to see the black and you start to see the crumb rubber coming up to the top, that means you're just about at at end of
life. And that's how those repairs start to start to happen. Before the Thanksgiving Day game, we had 20 hash marks that had to be repaired. and then we did it prior to the season starting. So, it's just a heavy use facility.
>> You're welcome. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other questions from the subcommittee? >> Have a great day, sir. >> Thank you, everyone. >> Next up is parking. Page 74. >> Good morning, Mr. chairman, members of
the ways and means commission. >> Good morning. >> Um just real quick, you'll see a a cost savings this year, a cost reduction of about 252,000. Um 200,000 is coming from salaries. We've been very successful in the past
few years converting our full-time employees over to part-time and it's been great is getting extra bodies out on the street covering additional hours with helping the city out with some fringe benefit cost as well as the council last year was gracious enough to
give us an appropriation of $30,000 for a second LPR system. We have expended that and used that money. Um that is not required for this year. We are not requesting that. We think we have enough technology to maintain our current enforcement. Happy to answer any questions that anyone may have.
>> Thank you very much, sir. Uh, open to the council. Councelor Arjenzio. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you very much, Zach, and thank you for being so responsive. I know I I'm guilty of calling you on the weekends and what have you, but you're always very responsive. I want to thank you for that.
>> Absolutely. >> How are we making out with the uh 15minute uh things on Broadway there? So, I'm glad you asked. Those arrived in my office uh Monday afternoon. >> Excellent. >> We are scheduling installation with our meter company as well as pole
installation through a fence company. Um we should have about additional 3 4 weeks until we're finalized with that. So, we should see them right around July 4th, a little after. >> Okay. And Shilav is getting them completely and we're getting a pilot program on Broadway. >> Correct. >> Okay. All right. Great. Thank you very
much. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other counselors? Councelor McKenna. >> Thank you. Uh Mr. Chairman, uh Heis, thank you for coming. Um so the pilot program, how long does that take to understand that we're g it's successful
and that we we can increase the um the length of it? >> Absolutely. So we are going to test it. The pilot is going to run on Broadway within the 10 meters between Yemen Street to um the driveway of the old China Roma. Um, so it's about 10 meters
and we're going to gather some data to see uh the occupancy rate, how many how many people are using the curb to park dayto day and how much loss of revenue, how much time are we losing each day by providing the 15 minutes. Um, right now it's a quarter for 15 minutes. So we
would be able to do some calculations to see what the loss of revenue is projected to look like. And the reason why we're so concerned about it is that that that uh revenue is given back to the department to pay for salaries and additional equipment and overhead for paying the utility bills of the
apartment. So, we want to make sure we're not shooting ourselves in the foot while trying to provide an additional service or uh help to the residents and the business owners in the city. I had uh um a few calls from the business owners that were very upset that they
didn't get it in front of their businesses. Um so that's why I was asking how long this is. So what do you think the pilot program's going to uh run to? >> I would say by the time we get to this winter, we should have enough data to make best decision moving forward. Um,
at that point, I would love to review it, present something to the council to let you know what we've gathered, um, kind of our recommendation moving forward and work with you all to see the best way we can serve our residents and the business owners. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other counselors?
President Sambuto. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks, Zach. Uh, I really don't have a lot of questions for you, but I I do want to echo my colleague to my right. you are very responsive and I'm often guilty of
calling you off hours as I am of calling most department heads off hours. So any anybody in the audience, thank you. And uh uh I have another job and and I get 247 calls because that's my job. So uh I
know that's not in your job description, but it really is. and and we all we all have to dedicate ourselves when we're in public service and uh I appreciate what you do and you're always very responsive and uh so that's all I have Mr. Chairman.
>> Thank you counselor. Uh happy to assist, happy to be available, you know um run a 247 department almost I'm always working so I'm always available to anybody who needs me. Um feel free to reach out provide my phone number to anyone else who may not have it. >> Absolutely.
>> Have a great day, sir. Thank you. >> Thank you as well. Hopefully, we're out of bouquets for now. >> Thank you, gentlemen. >> Next up is the planning department, Tom. >> Page 49. Page 49.
Good morning, sir. >> Good morning, everybody. Tom Sowski, 281 Broadway. The budget here is pretty straightforward. Um, similar um to previous levels of funding. The major
difference here um two, one, you'll see a a smaller cost um for our grant writer. Um that's an ARPA funded position, but our grant writer is also going to be attending law school in the fall and we'll be um kind of phasing out
that position in in around August. Um, and then the second major change, which is only a change really because it's in my budget, um, we've already had a senior repair program, but now it's going to become a regular part of our budget that we're going to help uh, fund through the affordable housing trust.
Um, we actually Joe Graalis in my office was just uh, talking to the Enterprise Bank Foundation um, to look at opportunities to take the money that um, the mayor's proposing to invest in this program to expand it further with outside donations. But um that's
certainly a program that um got a lot of use this past year. We have a lot of folks on the waiting list and we're excited to expand the program. Happy to take any questions you have. >> Thank you, sir. Open it up to counselors. Councelor Aenzio. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr.
Skarowski. Um you sent some information. I have it here on my phone about the CDBG money. Uh 61,000 last year for design for green infrastructure on Broadway around city hall. Can you describe that a little bit?
>> Sure. Um, so, uh, the engineering team had done, uh, some work through an MVP grant for, um, improvements, uh, in and around the, uh, the Broadway corridor with green infrastructure. And, and so that was one of the areas that was
highlighted as a potential opportunity to bring in some green infrastructure as a way for storm water um, drainage. And um it we when we saw that in their plan, we figured that tied in with a lot of what we were doing with Broadway master planning, you know, in terms of bringing
some more green to the corridor, making it feel a little bit more livable. Um and so we we've worked with Weston and Samson to design um green infrastructure on both sides of the street, on the city hall side, across at the post office as
well. Um just to brighten up the corridor a little bit. So we have the designs in hand. Now, our next step will be to see if we can match some CDBG dollars to um grant funding to uh fund the ultimate intervention.
>> That sounds very interesting. Do you think you can share that design so I can >> Yeah, happy to do so. >> Okay. And one other thing, this year 62,000 for design and construction of silver cell tree planting. Um I had to look that up. I really didn't know what
that was. It sounds very interesting. But where would that be going? that would be on Shirley Avenue. Um and and that's part of the tree master plan, tree planting master plan we um supported uh through a DCR grant a few years ago. Silva is basically um an a
way a new form of tree planting technology is that's especially to be used in areas where there might be utility conflicts. Um, it allows the the tree roots to grow in a way that can kind of work around the utilities. Um,
and also not come up and bulge out our sidewalks, which we often see with a lot of tree planting efforts. Um, and it's a new technology, but it's also one that's purported to allow for faster growth and healthier growth of the trees. Um, you know, any street tree eventually is
going to have to come down. um where it's not a green space, so eventually you hit that point, but it will provide more shade for a longer period of time, but it is more expensive to install, which is why we're trying on a on a pilot basis first. >> Okay. Thank you very much. And I'm all set, Mr. Chairman.
>> Thank you, counselor. Councelor Mccurio, >> Council McKenna, you are all set, sir. Have a great day. >> Thank you very much. >> Next up is the DPW. Uh the DPW begins on page 80. >> Good morning.
>> You're gonna you'll be speaking on the general side, the admin and the snow and ice. >> Correct. >> Awesome. Welcome. Thank you. >> Thank you. What would you like? >> And water and soar. Okay. >> Yep. >> Is there any particular order you guys would like to start with? If there's anything that you would like
to tell us, anything that jumps out budgetary, otherwise we can just open it up to questions for the council. And >> um well, if we start with Department of Public Works admin, as you guys know, last year we lumped everything into one department for public works. I'm sorry.
I want to give you a minute everyone to find All right. Any questions from the council? Councelor Arenzio. >> Thank you. And thank you, Mr. Chamela. >> Of course. >> Um, also you're also very responsive to me when any problem I have and and I
really appreciate that. >> Um, now I understand uh DPW is going to be taking over building maintenance for other uh Can you describe that a little bit? >> That is correct. So, we wrote up an agreement for police and fire and DBW, >> right,
>> to help kind of carve out what responsibilities each department will play. >> Um, for the majority of it, DBW's responsibility for like the actual infrastructure, building envelope, um, mechanical systems. There's other
portions that each other department also took up like fire department is now in charge of fire um >> fire extinguisher inspections, alarm systems. >> Everything just fits better and pertains to each department's function better than it did before. So, and I mean,
>> yeah, simply put >> that that sounds good. Uh I know last year kind of did the opposite with the uh field maintenance contracts and what have you. And when I heard that, I kind of cringed a little bit because I know what happens. How the responsibilities between you and parks and recreation
about who's paying for what and who's doing is that run smoothly? >> Yeah, it's a lot better now. We um so parks and recreation is basically responsible for infield repairs and >> Okay. >> Um just the infield of playing fields
and DBW is um assumes the responsibility for almost everything else. >> Okay, very good. Um let's see the administration of the uh chapter 90 funding. Is that you or is that Mr. Rystrom? >> That's both of us together. >> Okay. And there was an increase in that
uh >> believe it's 1.13 something like that. >> You you had given me a list uh maybe about a month ago. Is that list still accurate and >> correct? >> Okay. Do you have a um like a two or three year projection or forecast of what streets
you want to >> um I don't at this moment. We >> Oh, you don't have to do it now, but I Is that Could you generate that maybe? Sure, we can do that. >> Send it my way. Okay, very good. Um I think >> let me see.
I think that's it. I mean, I have one question about the U water sewer enterprise fund. Should I ask that now? We >> Yeah, let's Any questions regarding anything Mr. Charmel is here to represent? Absolutely. >> I noticed the clerk of the works position that's only uh funded for 6
months. Is that going to go away? >> Um that position, yes, will be, I believe, the person who's retiring at that time. >> And those duties will be absorbed by other people. >> Yeah. The construction oversight position most likely. >> Okay, great. Um I think that's it. If
something pops in my head, I'll ask you leeway. Okay. Thanks. >> According to the rules. >> Okay. >> From the president. Thank you, councelor. Counselor McKenna. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, um this week, this past uh meeting, uh Mr. Visqueke came up and told us that we had
to um uh raise the water uh 6%. >> And we were Oh, 4%. I'm sorry. Someone told me 6%. 6% would be >> okay. I mean 4% n I know that we are
catching up from last year with that 9%. Um and 4% I mean that's 13% that these people have to pay for water bills. Um and I went on a spiel last week saying that uh about 15 years ago we paid a ton
of money. Uh there was all towns and cities that paid a ton of money uh to put um Deer Island uh and the Clean Water Act. Um you know, that's what we paid for, but we got to see, you know,
the ocean uh get cleaned and the seals come to Revier Beach and the sea uh seashells appear again that we saw when we were little kids. What are we seeing with this 4%? Why are they asking for a 4% raise? I don't understand this. Are
we losing? Are we, you know, is our reservoir dry? >> Whoa. >> No. >> I mean, >> the Quabin reservoir is very very full. So, >> and I know you're the chairman. So, what what's going on? >> The rates are set by the MW. As far as
what they increase, they as far as their increases, there's not much I can speak to. I'm assuming it relates to infrastructure demand, the same things that we have to maintain ourselves. But I know that
without raising those rates, it does kind of create a cascading event for the next >> and that's why we voted for it because we didn't want to pay, you know, double next year and that's why we voted for it. But we were cringing that we had to pay another 4%. We all were, you know,
uh we we were we didn't want to do it, but because um Mr. Visque said, "Well, if you don't pay it this >> this year, you're going to pay double next year." So that's why we did it. But >> council, just just so you know, like the MWR is essentially a monopoly here. We have where are we going to buy our water
from? And so we, you know, we can we can debate it, but I I really think the MWR would be the proper people to bring up here and ask them exactly how they go about setting these rates. I mean, you're frustrated and I think everybody is, but we um we literally have no
option other than to pay. >> Well, I did ask that question if we could bring the MWR up here. >> Yeah, I think but you would you would be the one to invite them here to talk to you. >> Sure. And then you said talk, you know, talk to Chris cuz he's the chief. Oh yeah, I know he's on the advisory board, so that's why he may have more information.
>> So we can bring him up here if we can get them. I would love to bring him up here. >> So Nick is actually on the advisory board if you guys would like to beat Nick up. >> I have some questions for you anyway. So >> All right. Well, it sounds like uh a motion we can file at a
>> regular and we can do it. You know, I don't want to be the person that uh does the motion. I think the council should do the motion. We can discuss that at a a regular council meeting. Councelor. >> All right. Thank you, Chris. >> Any other counselors with questions? DPWA council mccurio. >> Yes.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Chris, for being here. I appreciate it. Just a couple of questions. The snow and ice budget uh we we increased it this year. >> Um >> we we never increase it. We It's been 250,000. We're um >> that's a budget that by law we're allowed to overspend. Um then uh
subsequent to the season being over, we can um you know deficit spend and then raise and appropriate that money to bring us back whole. So uh last couple years we actually had pretty good years. We were pretty much within budget, but we were a million dollars over budget. And that that's that's all part of the
2027 budget as I think it's a million $22,000 deficit that we'll raise and and appropriate when we uh certify our tax rate. >> But but 2027 budget will will beat 350,000 again. Okay, great. And uh under the tree removal um budget of 50,000,
you feel as though that's going to be appropriate enough to do the tree work that's uh required, Chris? >> Yeah, I know the council recently appropriated $50,000 before. So, >> we typically supplement that as well with the capital improvement plan. So, about a month ago, you appropriate another 50,000. So, we'll do 50 in the
budget and then we usually supplement it through the capital improvement plan of another 50 or some odd. >> Okay. because I' I've been driving around and I noticed there's a lot a lot of dead trees and a couple of big trees that need to be removed. Um but uh Okay, great. Thank you. Um
>> and the park maintenance is $160,000 for field uh contracted services and we have contracted services with the uh parks and wreck of $122,000. And I know they do a lot with the turf and and some other items, but um can you explain
that one 160 a little bit more in detail, Chris? >> So that's all the other contracted services and there's a little extra there for our responsibilities which is maintaining the fences, maintaining the irrigation, >> maintaining all the uh actual playground
equipment and >> so that's all built in playground mulch. >> So that's essentially the same as we did with So basically we have one contract. So the the the two costs are divided between park and wreck and DBW and then in both cases we put a little bit extra for those like you said a broken fence
are uh something out of the scope of the contract that we bid out. So, but we try to keep the parks with the infields and and playing fields in the park and wreck department because they they seem to uh pay attention more to those as far as if there's a day uh in which the park isn't
looking good instead of Michael calling Chris to call the landscaper. So, we just try to streamline some of those communications between um who's managing more of the open space in the public buildings. That'd be Chris to um administer that. But then there's a little bit of a supplemental for some of those add-on things that aren't part of
the uh annual contract. >> Do you think we could stream that even further? >> Well, we almost essentially talk about this every year. It's kind of it's it's almost like what's the what's the best fit? I think if you ask Council Aenzio,
he probably thinks that Charles should be under one and managers under one and then we run that way and then it starts getting a little um well, let's try it this way again. And so now we're trying as uh bifocating the responsibilities between parks and wreck and DPW. And then there's also the schools that we kind of that overlaps as well. So
there's no perfect system, but as we get new faces and and we get, you know, new new bosses, we try to to be as efficient as possible. >> Okay, great. Thank you, Chris, for all your hard work. We appreciate it. And uh thank you for keep continue doing a good job for the city of Rivier. We appreciate it. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor President Zamb. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I know that uh you don't like me throwing bouquets to the department heads, but >> this is strike two, Mr. President. >> I know. It's okay. Uh but I have to say, Chris, you are very responsive. Always
have been. And your top staff is very responsive and and uh from my position, that's very important, and I appreciate it. Uh you you do a great job. And I know it's not an easy job because you got a lot of people like me that when they're calling you, it's it's urgent.
It's always urgent because the constituent is always uh it's an urgent pro. It's the it's their whole life. So when I'm calling you with something and you respond to it right away, it means an awful lot to me and the citizens. So I appreciate your efforts and I got two
strikes now for throwing bouquet. >> Thank you. >> You got over him. So >> thank you, Mr. President. I guess. Um, councelor Mccuria, >> thank you for the le leeway. Just one more quick question, Chris. Uh, the staffing level right now is at how many down the city?
>> Uh, 15 on one side. Let's look at it. So, five admin administration, general fund has 15, and the water sewer I believe has 12. Hold on. 13.
>> 13. So we have about uh 33 34 35 people down there. >> Correct. >> Do you feel as though you're under staff down there? >> We're lean, but our guys are doing a good job. >> We also have four additional in the solid waste as well. So >> I apologize. Yes.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> With the staff you have, you're doing a great job. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Chris. >> Thank you, counselor. Uh, councelor Aenzio. >> Thank you. Uh, Mr. Chair, I have a
question about the um trash and recycling um enterprise fund. Uh, Mr. Visque gave me the numbers. So, it seems as though the trash tonnage and recycling tonnage has been pretty stable over the last uh 5 years. Um, and I know
that's a huge cost to the city. We just entered into a 5-year contract with capital. Uh we have a long-term uh contract with Wheeler. The the only u little caveat there is is the recycling. Um
that am I correct in saying that it's costing more now uh to get rid of recycling per ton than it is trash? >> Correct. >> And that's happened before when I was there. Um we can thank the D I guess for that. Um, do Mr. Viske did mention, do
you think it's we could go out to bid or an RFP uh to see if maybe another recycling facility could lower that cost a little bit. Um, I know if it's if you enter
into an a contract with a recycling facility that's a distance from here, then capital would probably be complaining about that um because they have to truck it further. Do you think there's there's any uh Oh, >> I think it's worth a shot. >> We can have a discussion with capital
and see if they're willing to >> I mean, that's just a pass through cost for them. So, I mean, I imagine if if another facility is within uh roughly the same distance. I don't they shouldn't have a problem with it, but >> um yes, that's something we can definitely >> Right. >> Um
>> does do we get any meaningful grants from the D for uh >> No, we don't. >> Okay. All right. Well, maybe the D can help with I'm sure they do analysis all the time for these different recycling facilities and what they're charging.
They could all be on board. I don't know. Just a just a thought. >> No, that's actually not a bad idea. We can look into that. >> Council, just so you know, we do um we recently tried to reinvigorate the recycling of textiles throughout the city. So, right >> um we do have bins throughout the city
that again, anything we could take out of the stream of trash will save us money. I know the composting was one that is being rolled out. I think it's a little slow, but the uh textile stuff seems like everybody has old pots and pans and and clothing to to recycle as opposed to throw in the trash. So, you
know, to those who who may be listening out there, you know, anything you can get out of that that recycling stream does cost more than trash. But, uh we are trying to find ways to divert trash and save some money for sure. I mean, to our credit, I think we're the only city in town that doesn't charge a fee or pay
as you go or >> Yeah, we've been really uh trying our best to maintain that. It's um we like we're pretty proud of that. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, councel. Before we move on, does anyone have any further questions regarding the administration snow and
ice or general fund? Uh if not, we can move to the um the enterprise funds, water and store and solid waste. That's section four, page one. And uh the floor is President's Ambuts. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I I I don't want to prolong this trash talk, but
the I hate to keep reminding people how long I've been around up here because it's not good for my image, but uh I remember when curbside recycling came out in the city and it was healed as the next
coming of well, whatever it was was as healed as a as a new miracle and people were going to get money and gift cards and you know that didn't last too long. >> And uh then all of a sudden we couldn't get rid of this stuff and now all of a
sudden it's more than the trash. So, I mean, listen, I'm not I'm not not a fan of E D or whatever E EPA and all the the there's there's a need for some of this and and then
there's a this when you jump off a cliff and unfortunately the recycling has jumped off a cliff and you know, we can't we can't encourage people to put the stuff in the trash because It's it's
a it wouldn't fit our, you know, >> environmentally friendly uh situation, but uh >> God, they got to they got to try to help us on this because it is, you know, my colleague said we are the one of the
only cities that uh uh doesn't pay to play in trash and but we are supplemented at almost $5 million to do that. And I don't know if the taxpayers understand that, but uh so I guess I would ask the taxpayers and the
citizens to be more careful what they put. Uh and and and the CFO mentioned that don't throw clothing in the trash. >> You know, there's common sense stuff and maybe we've got to do a little more re-educating on on on what's going on
and especially in recycling. And you know, uh, I think a lot of the expenses because there's contaminated situations going in recycling. I don't think people truly understand what's recite. I know we've put out a lot of literature and
stuff, but maybe we've got to take a different direction with PSAs or something and educate people on what uh goes where and so that we're not adding tonnage to the recycling that's
not proper recycling and our expenses keep going through the roof. I know there's no real answer, but >> No, we did re we re re we reinvigorated that program for the outreach and to help people determine what goes where. >> Yeah. >> To help clean up our recycling as well
>> in in several different languages. >> Yes. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Anyone else? Councilman Curio. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh Chris on the uh water and so and enterprise the drainage and sewer maintenance. Can you
explain that line item please for us? >> All right, hold on. Uh fiscal third quarter fiscal year is 115,000. You're asking for 275,000. >> So drain sewer maintenance is um cleaning all of our sewer pump stations,
jetting sewer lines, and cleaning out catch basins. the end of this fiscal year, our contract lapsed, so we weren't able to use most of that funds, but it's now signed and we'll we'll spend the remaining funds. Now, >> is that a contracted service or is that in
>> that was awarded by to n um national water main? >> Okay, great. Thank you, Chris, for that. Uh and the safe water drinking assessment uh is about 15,000 uh you have budgeted for this year. >> That's required by um MWR. It's nothing.
We can I can't touch that one. It's a set rate by them. >> So the M MWR tests the waterfall. So do you have an outside service that comes in? >> That's a it's well there's three different things. We have to do the annual statistical report, the
assessment and then there are um there are I'm sorry statistical report assessment and then there's water quality monitoring. So that's the MWA portion. I think we help kind of pay for some of that. >> Okay. >> Out of our own pocket, which is kind of
crazy, but yeah, that's a set rate. They they send it over every year. >> They send that additional to the Okay. >> Council, just to follow up on your uh drainage uh 275,000. Um we we print those uh activity reports
through nine months. Yep. >> We have all but $11,000 of that committed for fiscal year 2026 work. So, like Chris says, in the spring, that's kind of when you get going. So, th those dollars are incumbent now, so that work can continue. So, that that number is a pretty accurate number. We we um we'll
spend that 275,000 pretty much. >> Oh, that's also our soils. That's where we get dispose of soils through that account as well. >> Okay, great. >> From digging out the road, excavates, and everything else. >> Thank you for letting me understand that a little bit better. I appreciate it. I'm the new kid on the block, so I'm just kind of >> figuring things out a little bit here.
Thank you, Chris. I appreciate it. >> Yep. Thank you, counselor. Councelor McKenna. Uh thank you Mr. Chairman. I just want to know he's still doing the leaders and how many uh do you have left in the city? >> The lead services I don't have a fisc actual number right now. I know they're in the point of pines removing them. Um,
we had to hit around 63 this year and each year it's going down and down and down and we're we have it completely under control now which is awesome compared to surrounding cities that are entering consent degree uh sorry consent orders and all these other unfortunate
situations because I couldn't get a handle on the the ledge services but we're doing tremendously well with it and I have to hand it to uh Anthony Galysia for >> Yes. >> heading up that portion of it. >> Yeah, he does a great job. >> Thank you. Yep. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other
counselors with questions? Have a great day, sir. >> Thank you. >> Next up is the uh building commissioner. That is page 71. And right after that will be engineering.
Good morning, sir. Good morning. So, basically we're level funded since last year. Last year we had a a big drop off. Um so, but from last year to this year, we're basically level funded.
Um we're doing more with less. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Any questions? Councelor Argenzio. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Cavanaro. Um, I said the same thing to Michael Wells. I I know your department, unfortunately, a lot of people that deal
with your department, it's always negative. You know, you're you're the enforcement arm, which you know, we need. Um, and you're the city's exploding with people and people just seem to be building at will and you're trying to keep ahead of it. Um, so thank you very much for doing that and you
have a small crew. Um probably uh in the next month or two I was going to ask for a meeting maybe with the mayor and ISD. I have some ideas to do some ordinance changing um maybe to help uh help out make life easier over there. But thank you very much. I don't have any particular questions for you here.
>> Thank Thank you. I I appreciate it. >> Okay. Thank you, counselor. Any other counselors for questions for the building commissioner? Uh President Zambo. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not going to throw too many bouquets at you. You got one strike left and then you're left and we're almost done today. So
>> he he calls me the most. I didn't up here. >> That's true. And again, I I I thank you for being responsive. Uh uh my one question is, you know, I've got a lot of enforcement issues out there right now.
Do you have anybody else besides you that goes out on enforcement issues? >> Yeah. like uh >> all the all the buildings >> like the improper uh um Amazon thing that's going on on Broadway and he
still continues to defy us. >> Yeah. All the building inspectors go out. >> They even if even electrical or plumbing, they'll go out. I guess what I'm trying to get at is how do you um let's assume we're gonna uh we're going
to find this guy daily, which is I'm going to be calling you soon and we're going to the one thing I don't ever want to see and I I my colleague here said it all. Your job is one of the toughest ones because it's it's all negative
because people are doing stuff I almost said something else that they're not supposed to be doing. And and the thing that bothers me more than anything is when we tell them they're doing something that's illegal and they continue to do it, >> right? >> Those are the people that I want to
croak. I want to I want them paying the maximum fine every day that they continue to defy the law. And you know, >> uh, shame on me for wanting to enforce the rules, right? >> But, um, but we have to. >> Yeah. We we we find people when we have
to. Um, everyone has their own opinion with what they think is right. Whether a kitchen that's been there for 100 years is okay or >> whether the Amazon, well, everyone's doing it on Broadway, why can't I do it? Well, >> because it's against the rules. That's
why when somebody when they're doing something wrong, you got to come down hard on them so that the next guy down next door isn't doing it. this guy when you're using the everybody's doing it stuff, you know, we can what? Why have
any laws if everybody's doing it's okay? I'm less I'm less interested in if a kitchen's been there 25 years and stuff that I am somebody doing a business in a district they're not allowed to because it takes away from the person that's
doing the right thing and and following the rules. So once we once we allow leakage on following strict zoning rules, then we're up the creek. >> No, I our our ticketing system is probably the best in the state. And
>> okay, I want to I want to get some better information on what we're doing, especially in this particular instance. But it's it's it's not all that >> in that particular instance. This it's tough because they're not they don't own the they lease the the business leases
that area. So you when you fine you the fines go to the owner. >> Yeah. Well, >> but we could do like we could we could revoke their occupancy and shut down their business >> if you really wanted to. >> Well, I >> you know, which we might come to that. >> Well, I think that may I just interject?
I would like to keep this budgetary. We're going to get right off this. >> Let's not talk about revoking, you know, >> in the future. What we're going to do is uh is follow up on it. And if it takes revoking someone's license or permit for
operation, that's what we need to do. Cuz if you're not if you're breaking the law and you keep ignoring, it's like sending a carpenter every day or or it's like releasing a guy every day on the same crime. It's it doesn't work and we got to fix that. But thank you, Mr. President. >> My point is that uh you do a great job
and I appreciate the difficulty that we put you in. Uh but that's your job. >> Thank you. Thank you. No more questions. Have a great day, sir. >> You're out. That's it. >> Engineering page 53.
>> Good morning. >> Morning, sir. >> Um just um something quick. So you'll see that my budget uh is exactly level funded. Um the one thing I will point out is that previous fiscal year um
one of my uh employees started in the middle. Uh so uh salaries weren't full. Uh this coming fiscal year will um will be full. So, I'll have my full staff, which is uh one admin, two staff
engineers, and myself. Um, so that's I don't know if it's a difference, but that's the one thing that you might see that's a little bit different than the previous fiscal year. Um, otherwise, I'm happy to take any questions. >> Thank you, sir. Councelor McKenna.
>> Thank you, um, Mr. Chairman. Um, thank you for being here, Nick. Um, I have a couple of questions. Um, so for the last two and a half years, three years, we've been talking about wave being paid, uh, paved and it's always
like, uh, in two months, in two months, in two months, and two months, and I know it's not you. Um, is that going to happen? >> So, what I receive from the DCR is yes. Uh unfortunately I share your
frustration because every time I ask them they say I know it's going to be you know it's coming this year we're mobilizing in a few months and then it goes it comes and it goes and I say hey what happened? Oh geez and they give me some excuse. >> Um so they have said that it is
happening. At this point I'm not really trusting that. Um, I'll believe it when I see it, but what I can do is continue to sort of um poke at them and keep asking about it so that at least it stays, you know, in their in
their schedule. >> It's it's sinking. The the road's sinking. So, I mean, something has to be done way. So, um, >> if you have some, um, place, if you have, if you've been down there recently, you have some photos that you can I can go down and put
>> and I'd be happy to, you know, relay that to them and, you know, try to get a sense of urgency, you know, from them. But, um, again, I I share your frustration because I've had that conversation more than once, um, with those folks and and having difficulty
getting it moving along. >> Thank you. And I know you're the tree warden. Um, uh, we do have, uh, a number of trees in Beachmont. We have two trees down in, as uh, Councelor Mikurio said, we have two trees in Beachmont. I put it
in 311 3 weeks ago. >> Miss Councelor McKenna, this is not this is not >> budgetary. Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. >> Sorry, >> Council Murio. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, uh, Mr. Rice Nick, for being here. I appreciate it. uh under contracted
services, you have a line item of $93,000. Can you explain that a little bit in more detail for us, please? >> Yep. So, uh 70,000 of that uh is for our annual uh regulatory outfall sampling and MS4 permit compliance. Uh that's a
contract that um uh historically has gone uh to Western and Samson. Um the other 20 uh is for um uh services that come up during the year where we may need um a survey done or some small um
you know contract uh design or something like that. That's why it's not very uh not a very big number. It's mostly for um survey only because we don't have surveyor on staff that we can tap for that sort of stuff. >> Yeah. >> All right. Great. Um, and we'll get into
consent decree at another meeting, but uh, thank you very much and I appreciate all your hard work that you do for the city and uh, continue doing a good job. >> We'll do. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other questions? Budgetary councelor Aenzio.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Rice. U, I want to ask a question as it relates to the chapter 90 budget. Uh we were uh we were set to do uh sidewalks on Reservoir Avenue. Then it was discovered that it was not an accepted
street. It's probably one of the older streets in in REA. Is there any way uh that a member of your staff can maybe go through? How do we find out after all this time that it's not accepted? Um so we could do work on it. So, we do have a
list that's uh maintained through the cook's office that uh describes accepted streets and unaccepted streets and things of that nature. >> Um, >> truth be told, you know, for Reservoir A. >> I didn't even think twice about it.
It's, you know, an old street. >> You know, most of it is accepted. >> You know, the assumption was that the whole thing was accepted. And it's a little odd that the piece that isn't is the oldest piece and it's sort of like from the middle. >> Yeah. >> So it came as a surprise to us as well.
Um but um I have already had one of my staff um started down the path of having that uh piece uh accepted and then having it introduced to um the chapter 90 folks so they can add it to their um uh you know catalog of streets.
>> Is that a tedious process? Uh >> it's not difficult. it's just sort of timeconuming. Um, and I think that, >> you know, as is a lot of things with, uh, the state, there's a lot of like kind of red tape, so it's a lot of back and forth with little kind of minutiae
things. >> Um, so like I said, it's not difficult, it's just kind of timeconuming. >> Time consuming. Okay. >> Well, thank you very much. >> All said, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, councelor. Uh, council murio, >> just one other question. This might be a question for Mr. Visque. Uh, Mr. Visque
uh chapter 90 money for this coming year, fiscal year. Uh where where are we with that? Do you do you know offhand and how much is available? >> Um Nick might know better than me, but I think it's about 1.15 million. Typically it's about $800,000, but we got a supplemental budget this year, which I
think brought it up to about 1.1 million. Nick, I don't know if you >> That's right. That's the That's the accurate aortionment. >> Is that And is that already appropriated for some uh street repairs and sidewalk repairs? >> Yes. Okay. >> Uh it's not um >> well not appropriated. So what happens
um is we'll get a letter that tells us anytime we get a grant, we consider chapter 90 a grant. Once we get an official award or a signed contract, then we create the budget for that. So once chapter 90 sends us the letter how much we get, we create a budget for that amount and then that allows Nick to
start to um put his um work uh work orders, procurement um goes through the procurement process and put the purchase orders in place. So we set the budget when we get the award and then they'll draw it down. >> And and you anticipate us getting that whole amount or >> Yeah. I mean whenever they tell us I mean basically it's always at the state
level they have to they have to pass a bond bill and when that bond bill passes then they then they give us the green light. So if the bond passes they give us the green light. >> We deficit spend and then we put in for reimbursement and we get that back. Uh um Nick, I I I put in an email to you
and um um Chris uh regarding chapter 90 money and uh appropriations for what streets are going to be done and sidewalks are going to be done. Maybe some uh infrastructure saw work. I was wondering if you can provide that list to the counselors so we all can have that and uh
>> so we know where we stand uh on because we get I'm getting a lot of calls that for streets that need sidewalks and repair and I can't say if it's on the uh budget for this year the money has been appropriate but if I have that list and I and I've been telling them it might be in the future it'd be very helpful for
all our c for all the counselors. >> Sure I can share that. No problem. >> Thank you. >> Thank you councelor counselor McKenna. >> Thank you. Um, Mr. Chairman, um, so we have, um, I would like to see one thing done in Beachmont. Uh, we have Pearl
>> and we did the whole street and we did one side, uh, concrete. The other side hasn't been, uh, the other sidewalk hasn't been done. It's tar and it's falling apart. It's, you know, dis dissipating. So, I was just wondering if we could do and it's only uh, a block.
It's about maybe I don't know 10 13 houses. >> Are you talking about the the section up by Orchard? >> Uh going down where the beach is where it gets flooded >> on this side on the leftand side that hasn't been done yet. Okay. >> And it's I mean just to complete the
street because that whole street has been done. >> Sure. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you C guys. If unless it's a budgetary question, I'm not going to allow any more work order style comments or questions. Council mccurio. Just one other uh I'm going to throw a bouquet out there. Uh I'd like to thank Chris
Chamelo uh for uh negotiating with National Grid. Uh they are in the Beachmont area doing Pearl uh Crystal Webster uh and uh Crescent Aav and uh we negotiated with National Grid to do curb to curb paving and uh I'd like to thank
him for that. Thank you, Chris. >> All right. Thank you very much, Mr. Ra. Have a great day. >> Thank you. Uh we have um so we have the regional emergency communication center that's on page 66. Uh does anyone have any
questions regarding the the wreck? >> Um if I may I'll just I'm a as a board member of the um uh the wreck we um our meeting is later this week to set the budget. We have u I have seen the preliminary budget for fiscal year 27
and um that is such that we are allowed to level fund that budget for 27 we shouldn't incur any additional costs for that operation in 27 and in fact once the uh third community Chelsea joins our group that we should see some uh some efficiencies and some savings that
appropriation but for 27 um we we don't expect uh to have any increase in that particular budget. So, um, I can certainly try to answer any questions, uh, on behalf of the wreck. >> Any questions regarding the wreck? All right, we will close that. And, um,
we've just, uh, received notification from Superintendent Diane Kelly. She will not be able to make it here until 11:45. We're going to recess and um, come back at 11:45 a.m.
>> So, be in recess until then. Thank you. >> Today's graduation, so I know Uh hopefully River TV is still there. We've uh actually decided to Oh, excellent. We've decided to proceed uh without the superintendent. What we're
going to do is request uh the superintendent uh be here for any questions from the entire council, the the the city the committee of the whole on June 22nd at 5:00 p.m. Uh I believe all of the department heads including the mayor
would will be in attendance for that. Uh so if it's uh okay with the subcommittee, I'd like to just open the floor and um otherwise we can reserve this for Monday the 22nd, the committee of the whole at 5:00 p.m. Any objection?
>> All right. Well, that is the last department. Uh and that the school department conversation will be tabled until then. Thank you guys very much. I want to say you can um you do have regional schools. I can certainly do regional schools because it's just assessments from the
three regional schools if you didn't want to get into that. That's 322 I believe. >> Oh my apologies. I thought she was going to cover that. Um >> I mean she may as well but it's three assessments for the Northeast Vogue. It's the assessment for Essex Tech and it's it's the assessment for Minute Man and you know basically we got a bill and
we pay it. So um >> I'm sure she could talk on it but just while we're here that's those are three assessments for those schools and we are definitely seeing an increase in those cuz there is increase in uh the interest in vocational learning. So we we're seeing more people go to those schools. So but otherwise >> any questions regarding the regional
schools there's nothing we can do about it. It is what it is. We have to pay them to take our our kids. So >> all right uh okay now the meeting is adjourned and this will be referred to the committee of the whole on June 22nd.
Thank you all very much.