--------- Good evening. Welcome to the November 24th Ways and Means Subcommittee. Please rise to salute the flag. >> I pledge algiance 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 call club the members. Councelor Arenzio >> here. >> Here. Council McKenna >> here. >> Here. Council Vasilski >> here. >> Here. Council Zamutoo >> here. >> Here. And chairman Kaggleandro
>> here. >> Here. Quorum is present. First matter on tonight's agenda is council order 24-257, communication from the chief of planning and community development relative to a proposed special act to support the family of Robert O'Brien.
>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh we have members of the family in the audience that will be speaking. I would like to open it up to counselors if anyone uh councelor Arenzio. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh it's my intent to look on this uh favorably and
I read this decision opinion uh several times and Mr. O'Brien was 81 years old and he resigned from the city. he didn't retire and at the
point of his retirement he had option D on his uh record at the retirement office which would leave his uh wife uh some money uh when he passed away. Uh now that equals about $82
uh a month. Now in this decision or opinion, Mr. Kenneth Foron. Uh I guess Mr. O'Brien was under the impression that when he resigned that became null and
void. He he was no longer a member of an active member. And Mr. Foron says to the extent that he thought about it, now this is referring to Mr. O'Brien, it is likely he thought that his option D allowance was null and void. Since he
was not an attorney, he turned to the Commonwealth's website for guidance. After all, the contributo retirement law is notoriously complex. The guidance uh that came from the website, I they have determined that it
was incorrect, but that's what he was basing his decision on. And it says here that unfortunately that guidance was incorrect. Therefore, I encourage Mrs. O'Brien to seek special legislation permitting her to wave her allowance and
collect her husband's remaining total accumulated deductions. The Rever board does not oppose this relief and Perak has already offered its assistance in pursuing this option. So this would only
return to the O'Brien family the money that he submitted into the system. So, uh, I don't see any reason why we would, uh, not allow the family to have what Mr. O'Brien, I'm sure, would want to go
to his wife, um, and children or grandchildren. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors wishing to speak? Councelor Zamjudo. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um,
you know, I'm I'm in a uh a tough position because uh I had a lot of respect, God rest his soul, for Bob O'Brien. He was a wonderful man. Did a wonderful job for the city. Uh but I think most people know
where I stand on these such matters. I've gone so far as to resend for the first time in the history of the city special legislation because it opened up a can of worms that would uh put the city at risk for millions of dollars. Uh
I took a lot of heat for that as a again the person was wellliked and had lots of friends. Uh, however, I have to do what's best for the city here. And, uh, I can't support this because this opens the door for others. And, uh, I I, you
know, I I feel bad that, uh, this happened, but, uh, that doesn't change my opinion on what's best for the city. Therefore, I can't support this. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors?
Madame clerk, uh, let's call the role. >> It see Well, the two people that spoke, we have one that's for, one that's against. Do we want to send a favorable? It has to be in the affirmative. Do we want to vote to send a favorable or vote to send an unfavorable? What would the will of the committee be?
Seems like we're torn on this. So, >> well, I mean, I it it it doesn't matter to me. I'll put in a motion that we vote un vote it not favorably, but the the normal way is to the normal way is to uh
put it up favorably and then I can vote against it. >> Mr. Chairman, are the members of the family allowed to speak? >> My apologies. You are correct, counselor. I am Thank you for reminding me. >> Uh sorry. All business up here. Um,
please uh state your name and address for the record. >> Good. >> Yes, sir. >> My name's Paul O'Brien. I'm the brother of Bob. Um, I'm here today obviously to make the case for Bob. Megan Wright, who
is one of Bob's four daughters, is also here with me. It I've been told that you want me to keep this relatively short, but I'm getting the feeling that there may not be a full appreciation of what happened and what
option D says and how people relied on option D. So, I may take a few more than just a couple of minutes, but let me know if I'm going too far. So, some background, and this is just to make sure that everybody's on the same
page. It sounds like it is. I think you presented the facts, and I think they were correct, but I'll repeat it. While employed by the city of River, Bob designated Annette as a so-called option D beneficiary under the Rivier retirement plan. Bob resigned as
director of planning and community development at River in December. Everybody knows that 2023. He died in February of 2024 at the age of 81. This matter revolves around Annette's benefit and title under the plan. So Megan and I
are here on behalf of the family. This is a very important point. Uh and we hope that you'll at least have an open mind about it. So, we're here to endorse the approval of the so-called special legislation. In our view, that's why
there is special legislation. It's to take care of scenarios just like this. So, in this case, why the need for special legislation? Uh again it's been made clear but the what we are faced with here is a
scenario where based upon what the court has said Bob would be not Bob but Annette would only be entitled to the 80 to $100 whatever the final annuity is uh
and not a lump sum distribution. recognize the lumpsum distribution is of Bob and Annette's money. It's not Ravier. Ravier would not be hurt in any way by that money going to Bob, his his
spouse. So that it's his money. I've never heard of a scenario where that wouldn't be the case. I have questions about whether that's even legal because it you're keeping his money. It's it's sort of like an unlawful conversion of his money. Um,
so if if the proposed legislation goes through, uh, special legislation, Bob would then have a net would then have the option of obtaining the $80,000 as a lump sum. Now, just just to make
this crystal clear, everybody can do essentially the math. I did the math thinking that the benefit was closer to 130. It sounds like it's less, but even if you assumed it was 130 and on that
basis, it would take over 51 years before Annette achieved a return of the money that they both contributed because when he contributed, it was both of theirs. So, it would take 51 years to get that money back. That's just
hard to believe. Just doesn't seem right. Annette is 82 years old. Her health is not optimal. Um, even if it were optimal, she's not going to make another 51 years. So, to put it mildly,
this is grossly unfair to her. So, you might ask, why did Bob do this? Why did he sign up for option D? Well, just like most people, he wasn't really fully aware of how these things work.
The courts in Massachusetts have said that the regulations supporting the retirement benefit plans are notoriously complex. So when when Bob died, um
it became important to me. I first became aware of it at the point soon after Bob died and we I became aware of this. Now I am an attorney. I'm in New Jersey. I'm not a benefits attorney, but I go to the most obvious places to find
out what something means. And so what did I do? I went on I did a Google search. The Google search took me to the um the website. And let me get to the website. Um
it's actually a Massachusetts State Board of Retirement guidance. You'd think that would be something you could rely on and actually I think the guidance comes much closer to what the intent of option
D is. The intent of option D was to give if someone died before they reached 10 years of vesting service. And the reason they didn't vest was because of death, they would vest at the years they had. That was the point of it, to give a
break to somebody who actually died. If you left, if you went five years and then left voluntarily, that goes away. You You didn't Your vesting didn't stop because of your death. It left because you voluntarily left. If you died after that,
irrelevant. Has nothing to do with it. You're not vested. So, that's the essence of of option D. But I I think it makes sense to I'm going to read you a couple of things from
the actual guidance D and it'll make it crystal clear why this has happened and why there has been um very much uh a misunderstanding on anybody that would have read that
guidance. Bear with me. I thought I had it here. Here it is. So, this if you go up on the website today, this is what you will see. verbatim. This is a year and a half after this is
essentially all taken place. Option D for active members. Active members means people that are still working. So what does option D do? Again, these are verbatim words. Option D is actually
not a retirement option for the member, but it does provide for a lifetime benefit for the member's beneficiary. It is only activated only activated if the member dies while still employed for the Commonwealth.
That wasn't the case with Bob. He died after his active employment. This is the option members of the state employees retirement system hope never to activate. Simple reading of that. The logic of that is that if you if you leave
and have not died, you're voluntarily leaving, the option has no application anymore. You're not going to die while actively employed. It just becomes null and void. It's just has no meaning. Got that's the point of it. The second major point so that the first
part is active service. Second point is it says option D is an optional benefit. What are the two options? Again, word for word. Option one is to receive the member's annuity as a lump sum
distribution by either getting a direct refund or rolling it over into an eligible account. That's the $80,000 in this case. Option two is the monthly annuity, which in this case would be the $100 a month. So clearly anybody that
goes to option D would think it's correct because it in my view it is correct. The court has said it's not correct. But nevertheless, anybody reading that I read it. I'm a
lawyer. I relied on it. Um, obviously I'm not fully familiar, but when I did look at the the regulations that were applicable, they focused on the word retire. And there the use of the word retire to
me was misused. Retiring means when Bob left when he left in at the end of 83 or uh when he was 81 in 2023, he retired. anybody normally thinking about would say he retired. What they're what what
the board has said is that retire in this sense means the date that you actually take your retirement benefit. Suppose you don't take a retirement benefit for five years. Does that mean you haven't retired? You've obviously retired. You just haven't taken the
benefit. It was a misuse of that word. They should have stuck with active retirement and they didn't. So, and again, I'm trying to do this in a in a shorter way than I had intended.
>> So, if I may, I'm sorry to cut you off. I've given you 10 minutes. Uh, how much more do you think you have? >> Two. >> Two minutes. >> Everyone good with that? Two more minutes. >> Oh, sure. >> Yes. >> Go right ahead, sir. >> Okay. So, um,
it can be shortened because you address the opinion and I was going to address the opinion too where it was made clear by the magistrate. He supports he supports this. They recognize he recognized everybody that has looked at this recognized that this was an
anomalous result, an unfair, inequitable result not intended. If if you found any legislature looking at this and said, "Is this your intention for this?" I I don't think you'd find anybody everybody that we talked to on both sides of this
issue from Rever insiders to uh Perak as mentioned to the administrative law judge to the town city council. They all agreed this is the way to do it. Even if you even if
you disagree or agree with the magistrate, this is the most appropriate way to go about it in order to preserve the equity and fairness associated with. So, I'll I'll say in in closing, while
it it may not be important uh and may not actually have any real significance in terms of what we're doing here, but Bob devoted his whole life to the city of Boston and Rivier and the Boston community.
He worked up until 83 81 years old for the city of River and did a lot and he did a lot for for he worked for downtown North Association 25 years he worked for them. He was a major contributor to the uh central
artery project. He did and he never did it for the money ever. He could have but he didn't. He devoted himself to this community and to me that should be taken into account and I hope that you will take it into account. To me just
fairness, justice, this is not going to be a precedent. This scenario is not going to happen again in my view. This is a very un the other thing is the the uh in final the judge said the guidance should be taken
down as soon as possible. It's wrong. the guidance is still there and either because they still think it's right or because they just haven't had it's not practicable yet to get it down but it's still there and people are still relying
on it. So I thank you for your time. I hope that you will consider this. I hope that you I know that you're having a difficult time with it. Um and I know you're going to vote your conscience u but thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
Anyone else wishing to speak? >> Council Novaski. >> Uh, you know, I'm not too even though I'm retired and you know, I I have an I had an option C. Uh, but does this change the D into option C to allow him
to collect that the family to collect money? >> Yeah. Put on the mic. >> All right. I'm not good with stuff like that. So it option D isn't act isn't actually a
retirement option in and of itself. If you elect option D, meaning and then you die while actively employed. It simply means that you're totally vested. So if you worked for seven years, you didn't hit 10, but by dying, you're vested
anyway. That's the benefit you get. And then the benefit that you're entitled to is option C. >> Well, because I I would think that because he worked for the Big Dig and other state agencies, he would have invested in the state anyway.
>> No, he wasn't. And the Downtown North Association isn't a wasn't a that's a community organization. >> And he spent 25 years there. So, he didn't accumulate any He just didn't think that way, you know.
>> He in a lot of his back seat. >> I'm sorry. I have mixed emotions on it. You know, I knew Bob well and I know he did a lot of good work around, but you know, just the the idea of taking, you know, $87,000
out of the retirement fund. >> No, it's not. >> Enough. >> You got to put >> important. I'm giving you a lot of leeway here. I know and I thank you for it. But he Bob deserves it.
>> The $80,000 that he will get out of this plan or a net will get were his own contributions. It's like you had a 401k. Do you ever have a 401k? >> No. >> Do you have a Did you ever have a u uh what's the private one? Did you ever put
money into an account? >> Sure. When you put your money in the account, it's your money, >> right? >> It's in the pension system, but >> it's in the pension system. But a 401k is it's your money in the pension system. >> Yeah, >> it's your money.
>> He's just getting back what he put in. >> If if it stays in there, that in effect is a gain for River. >> So he put in he put in $87,000 in six and a half years. >> 80 >> 80,000 >> and then it accumulates over time. So
it's earning. >> Yeah. >> In six years he put in that much money. >> Excuse me. >> He did. That's what >> he did. >> Yeah. >> He did. >> He put in contributions that as of now have earned enough to make it $80,000.
So it's his money earning money just like you have in a bank account. >> All right. Um thank you very much. >> Does anyone else have any further questions? We Let's take a roll call to vote favorably. >> Shall the Ways and Means subcommittee offer a favorable recommendation to
approve the special legislation for Bob O'Brien? Councelor Aenzio. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor McKenna. >> No. >> No. Council Noelski. >> Change my mind. Yes. >> Yes. Council Zambudo. >> No. >> No. And Chairman Kagglandro. >> No.
>> No. The special legislation has received an unfavorable recommendation. This will be reported out to the city council this evening. There is no further business. This meeting is a >> Oh, I apologize. There's one other >> There's a motion by Councelor Gino SA that the mayor request the Department of
Public Works to install signage and or blinking lights ahead of all speed bumps to provide sufficient warning to drivers and improve roadway safety. Furthermore, that the traffic commission and department of public works conduct a review of all existing speed bump locations to ensure proper signage is in place and report back to the city
council with its recommendations. My apologies. I wasn't prepared. Um, >> name and address for the record, please. >> Angela Garino, Hawaii Wood5 counselor. Um, speed bumps are meant to calm the traffic and protect residents, but
without clear advanced warnings, they can actually create safety hazards within the city. Drivers who don't see a speed bump in time, often break abruptly or swerve, which puts pedestrians,
cyclists, and other vehicles at risk. By installing this proper signage and flashing lights ahead of every speed bump, we ensure that motorists have enough time to slow down safely. This is simple. Proactive step that
improves visibility, reduces sudden stopping, and supports safer travel throughout the city's neighborhoods. Um, in addition to installing the new sign warnings, warning signs, it's important that we review the speed bump locations within
the city where we already have them. Some of these sites may lack the proper signage before it and may have signs that are very outdated. Um, they may be damaged or they may be poorly placed so you don't see them beforehand. So, if
the speed bump is coming and you're on the right side and the sign is on the left side, you're not even going to know that the se speed bump is there. So, they have to be checked. Um, I'm asking that the tra this the traffic commission will take care of this and the the Department of Public Works to
conduct a full review and report back to the city council perhaps in in the new year um and help us make sure that these traffic calming measures are cons consistent, effective and align with the best practices for the city. And um it's
not just about signs this motion. It's about the strengthening the roadway safety and giving residents the peace of mind that we all deserve in the safety of our children. Thank you >> councelor. If you just one second permission to speak from the chair
>> uh this was sent to ways and means to do for a financial impact analysis. Do we have that? >> No we don't. I don't have one yet. >> So we would probably just want to leave this in committee until it's we have one. Would we be able to send it to traffic and have them look at it that
way? And then >> is this is this an issue for the traffic commission? >> I would say so because they would have to put the signs up. It would have to go to um traffic and the DPW. >> I mean, I have no problem sending it to traffic. They could assess it there, but
it was only sent here for the financial impact statement. So, >> and I don't we haven't received any um financial um impacts from the city at all. Unless Ashley, have you gotten anything? >> This was the original motion that went
on. >> We would have to amend this motion to send it to the traffic commission. So at the end I I guess we could work conduct uh works conduct a review.
>> So again this is only here because we want to know how much it costs but maybe traffic can give us an answer on that since the DPW uh super is the chair. Um >> that would be great. >> Well we would have to amend this motion somehow. So, it's your motion,
counselor. >> Well, um let's amend it to send it to the traffic have the traffic commission look into the feasibility um and the price of what it would cost to
update the signage prior to the speed bumps uh within the whole entire city of Riviera looking at all the speed bumps. What do you think, Mr. Chair? Council, >> excuse me, if I may. Um, you we have a
traffic calming group that works on things like this and I think we ought to send it to them and let them work on it and because I I agree with what she's trying to do because I have I have a speed bump on Campbell Avenue and the
sign is three feet in front of the bump. You know, there's just no indication that they someone's coming up on a speed bump. >> No time. some even on Mountain A, you know, on Mountain A, the signs really aren't that far in advance. So, I think we ought to send it to the uh the
traffic timing group in U planning and development. >> And if that's the case, then there would need to be a petition, the same traffic coming measure petition everyone else has to do, and we should probably just place this on file. The reason >> it was done >> so that there's a there's a petition in.
So then either place this on file or amend it so we don't need to have a financial impact statement because that's the only reason it's in the sub. >> How about we place it on file I'll bring it back in January. >> If I may miss M council chairman you know I don't mind if you do that but I
honest in this case I don't think they need the petition because the petition is for the actual speed bumps to look into the safety of the speed bumps is another issue. It's not has nothing to do with the people looking for new speed bumps to be installed. So I you know I I
think we ought to send it to the group. Let the group make the decision. There's no there's no there's no I don't believe there'll be a signed die on if it goes into the group because they'll they'll be continuing the investigation. So >> if I'm if you said there was a petition
>> that there was a petition >> that's already with that group. >> I believe so. >> Does everyone agree with that? Yes. >> Okay. So then we should place this on file so that we don't send it. You know this is if we vote on this that means we receive the financial impact statement.
We know how much it's going to cost and the council is okay with moving forward. If this belongs with a different body, we shouldn't be voting on it. So if there's already a petition with the trafficcoming group, um then I say we place this on file unless there's any objections.
>> I agree, Mr. Chairman. just uh >> who who put it who put it in as a financial statement >> originally? >> We had it in I had it in as a motion um at the beginning of last year and it passed and then we had to go into um we
had to find out how much it was going to cost to get it done, but we haven't received any answers yet. Therefore, that's why it's here at Ways and Means. >> Well, I would, if I may, Mr. Sh. Um, you know, I agree with the what the actions we want to take, but I think, uh,
council, you should be following up with the traffic calming group and find out where it is. >> I can do that as well. >> So, >> so place on file, >> please. So, >> place on file. >> Thank you. >> Now, this meeting is adjourned.
Good evening and welcome to the November 24th appointment subcommittee. Could we all stand and salute the flag, please? Thank you very much. A request of uh road call for attendance, please.
>> Roll call of the members of the appointment subcommittee. Councelor Goaya >> here. >> Here. Councelor H >> here. >> Here. Councelor Novasellski. >> Here. Councelor Harmo is absent and chairwoman McKenna >> here. >> Here a quorum is present. First
appointment on tonight's agenda, communication from the mayor relative to the reappoint of Ellie Vargas to the disability disability commission. >> Is Ellie Vargas here, please? >> I'm right here. >> Okay. Could you come up and um state your name and address for the record and
um tell me why um what you have brought to the table uh for the disabilities commission. Hello, my name is Ellie Vargas. >> Wait until the um >> Yes, podium. There we go. >> Hi. >> Hello everyone. My name is Ellie Vargas.
My address is 127 Kimble Avenue Bear, Mass. And I've been on the commission for about I think two years. And I've been doing local activism and trying my best to put my input in what's going on
in the local environment. and I am more proud to be part of it again if you allow me to be on the commission. That's all. >> Thank you. Any counselors? Councelor Novasowski. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I know Ellie and I've known her for a long time. I voted her for her originally
when she came on. Uh she works for the uh election department or in the city and state and federal elections and does a great job down the Garfield and uh I would endorse this. Thank you. >> Any other councils? Thank you, Ellie. Do a good job for the
city. >> Thank you. Thanks for coming up. >> No problem. >> Thank you. >> All in favor? All opposed? So ordered. >> Communication from the mayor relative to the appointment of Nicholas Garvin to the parks and recreation commission.
>> There's Nicholas here. Hi Nicholas. >> How are you? >> Can you state your name and address for the record, please? Technology is great, isn't it? >> How's it going? I'm Nicholas Go, uh, 650 Ocean Avenue, unit 445. >> And tell me, you're this is a new
appointment. So, tell me what you're going to bring to the parks and recreation department. >> Sure. So, I have, uh, almost 10 years of experience officiating, um, college professional ice hockey. Uh I've been a re reviewer resident for almost five years now and uh very excited to be uh
involved in a lot of the new capital planning projects and and really improving um our youth's access to sporting facilities. Outside of sports, I uh have an accounting and finance background and a data analytics background. I'm currently working for
state street bank in geopolitical risk. >> Great. Thank you. Any counselors? Council H. Thank you, Madam President. Nicholas, thanks so much. Um, congratulations on the appointment, and you really struck a chord with me when you said something about getting the the
youth into into um city facilities, and that's definitely something that I'm huge on. This council's huge on. So, any ideas you can bring to get to get more families and more children, more teenagers in the city's gyms and even hockey rinks, that would be great. Thank
you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? Councelor Novasowski. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh Nick, thank you and welcome. Uh just so you know, 47 years ago, that was my first appointment to the city of River in the parks and recreation commission. So, you know, I
can relate. I know it's a very uh uh everybody see thinks it's a simple job, but it's not. Having to deal with this uh the stadium and all the different permits with uh with Mike, the recreation department, uh it can be overwhelming sometimes. So, thank you
for taking on this job. >> Appreciate the call. >> Thank you, >> Council. Um, Garina Sua. >> Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. We we spoke a little bit earlier. You will be working with some great people over in the park and rec uh parks and reccks department and I think you're going to
make a great addition to the team. >> Thanks so much. >> Thank you. And do a good job for the city. All in favor? All opposed? So ordered. >> Thank you. Communication from the mayor relative to the appointment of Jacqueline Damiano to the Parks and
Recreation Commission. >> Jacqueline, good evening. Could you just state your name and address for the record, please? >> Yeah. Jacqueline Damiano, 172 Prospect app. >> And you're a new appointment. What are you going to bring to the parks and recreation department? >> Um, I bring a strong background in
education. I have a master's degree um with a concentration for the inclusion classroom. I have been in Riviera my whole life raising our two little boys. Um I've been anywhere from a teacher to a supervisor. Um my leadership style is
supportive, organized and solutionbased. Um and I focus on teams feeling confident, capable, connected. So I want to bring education into the learning environments. >> Excellent. Excellent. Any councelor Hass? >> Thank you, Madam President. Jackie,
congratulations on the appointment. I think you'll be a great addition to this um commission. Uh you do great work at the the Lincoln school helping out the PTA and I think you'll be you'll be great for this and I'm not just saying that because our kids are friends, but congratulations.
>> Thank you. >> Any other counselors? Councelor Gino Slaya. >> Congratulations, Jackie. You're going to bring a great new perspective as a a young children's mom to to this department. and um I can't wait to see
what you come up with. Thank you. Good luck, hun. >> And we have um councelor Aenzio. He'd like to say something. >> Yes, please. Uh Paul Aenzio, 245 Reservoir Avenue, Ward 4 city councelor. Uh Jackie lives in my ward. Uh I've
known her her and her family for quite a while. I want to speak in favor of this. I think she'll be an excellent appointment. She has a great background, a great resume, and I want to speak in favor and hope you look uh favorably on it. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. And Jackie, it sounds like you're going to do a
wonderful job. So, do a good job for the city. Thank you very much. All in favor? All opposed? So ordered. >> Communication from the mayor relative to the appointment of Wilson Koreah to the parks and recreation commission. >> Will here. Hi, Will. Can you state your
name and address for the record, please? Wilson Korea 12 Sweeney. >> Okay. Could you tell me you're a new appointment? Could you tell me what you're going to bring to um the parks and recreation department? >> Sure. As a former soccer basketball coach working very close with the
currently with parks and recreation, great great group of people there. So looking forward if it's possible to work with them. John Leoni, great people. And uh I can bring I work very close with coaches in different sports. So bringing that together to make it better for the
kids of of the town. >> Great. >> Father of two. So this is something where I can help with >> any counselors. Thank you. Council Green SA >> Wilson, you going to bring us a championship? >> Hopefully.
>> I'm waiting for a soccer championship in Rivia this time. We don't have one yet. >> That's something I have very I already worked with the girls. I'm going to hold you to it. Thank you, >> Councelor Hess. >> I thought you were going to say a soccer stadium for a second.
>> Wilson, congratulations on the appointment. Um, >> every time I see you, you have a huge smile on your face. You're heavily involved in the community. You'll be you'll be another great addition to this commission. Congratulations. >> Thank you. And in reference to that, uh, just very
quick, Rivier has a has a tremendous potential with sports. Yeah, it has. But I think in soccer we have it. We just haven't explored and that's one thing kind of personally looking forward we can bring it to the next level >> councelor Jenzio. >> Thank you. Uh thank you madam chairwoman
uh Paul Jenzio 245 Reservoir Avenue. Uh I've known Wilson for a while now and he's very passionate about soccer and other sports and he works great with children and I I want to speak favorably on on his appointment and uh thank you and I do a great job Wilson. Thank you.
>> Do a great job Wilson. Thank you very much. Uh all in favor, all oppose. So ordered. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Communication from the mayor relative to the appointment of David Liry to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
>> David, state your name and your address for the record. >> You push the button, please. That's all right. >> Okay. Uh I want to resend. Uh, I did not realize that I needed to be a river resident to um to be appointed.
>> Yes. I'm sorry. >> I apologize. Okay. >> It's all right. But keep on coaching. >> Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. >> Oh, what? >> Okay, we're going to place this on file. Communication from the mayor relative to the appointment of Natalia Ardagna to
the parks and recreation commission. >> Before I say state your name and address, I just she was one of my students and wonderful wonderful. So state your name and your address for the record please. >> Thanks Natalia Adagna 67 Lancaster A. >> And you're a new appointment. So what
are you going to bring to parks and recreation department? Um, I have a long history of um, supporting Rivier. My family, um, I grew up here. My family's always been involved in Rivier athletics and the community. Um, and I have been
the head coach at UMass Boston um, and involved in higher education for close to 20 years. So, I feel like that and my sports background um, would be an asset. >> Great. Any counselors? Counselor Garina SA.
>> Welcome to Pogs and Wreck, my neighbor. Thank you. >> I think you're going to be wonderful. Um do Oh, Council H would like to say something. >> Congratulations, Natalya. You'll be another great addition. And I just want to say thank um everyone that showed up for the appointments committee. This is
probably the most people we've had show up to an appointments meeting. And I think that speaks to the character of everyone that's being appointed tonight. So, thank you for showing up. Thank you for being here. >> Of course. >> Do a good job for the city. >> Of course. >> All in favor? All oppose. So ordered.
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And last but not least, communication from the mayor relative to the appointment of John Shannon Bianke to the Parks and Recreation Commission. >> Hi, John. Could you state your name and address for the record, please?
>> Yes. Uh John Chana Bianke, 474 River Beach Boulevard, apartment 1102. And can you just tell me a little bit about yourself and what you bring to parks and recreation department? >> Sure. Um I bring eight years of municipal service uh at uh in the hunt. I was on the planning board in the hunt
and prior to that uh I was on the open space committee. Uh so what I'm bringing to the table is uh my knowledge of land use um um zoning regulations um EPA regulations um my background is in law. I'm an independent parillegal.
>> Great. Thank you very much. Any councilors would like to speak? >> Do a good job for the city. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> All in favor? All oppose? Awarded. This ends the appointments committee uh
subcommittee and we'll uh the council will take up the uh roll call tonight. Thank you very much. If you feel like you you don't want to stay, you don't have to. All right. Good night. Part: 2
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Monday, November 24th, 25 city council. Please stand to salute the flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the Congress for it stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call the members. >> Roll call of the members. Councelor Arenzio >> here. >> Here. Councelor Kogandro >> here. >> Here. Councelor Janino >> here. >> Here. Councelor Gino SA >> here. >> Here. Councelor H
>> here. >> Here. Councelor Hero absent. Councelor Kelly >> here. >> Here. Councelor McKenna >> here. >> Here. Councelor Nasellki >> here. >> Here. Council Zamutoo >> here. >> Here. Council President Sylvester >> here. >> Here. A quorum is present. Approval of the journal of the regular meeting of
November 10th. >> All in favor? All opposed? >> Accepted. >> Calendar item number three. The city council will will award certificates of commendation to the Rever Botchi team in honor of their victory over their friendly rivals in the River versus Chelsea Botchi tournament this past
September. Councelor Hass and Garino Sua [applause] Bob. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Guys, congratulations. I was blessed to spend, you know, three plus years at the Re Senior Center under Debbie. I got a lot
of you I knew from when I was a kid. I was friends with y your children. Um, a lot of you I became friends with. But I want to say it's incredible to see what you do for the community, how you stand together, everything you do for the city of Rivier, everything you do for the senior center. It's it's a great thing
to see up close and personal, but thank you and thank you for bringing the trophy back home this year. [applause] Tonight, the city council is proud to recognize our senior botchi team, our rea senior botchi team for their outstanding victory
in the recent tournament against Chelsea. Their dedication, their teamwork and sportsmanship are a true inspiration. On behalf of the city of Rivier, we congratulate you on this welldeserved
accomplishment. You guys made us so proud. I love each and every one of you and I appreciate what you've done for us. [applause] >> Bring the trophy. Bring the trophy. Let's go. >> What's in there? You going to drink out of it?
>> Mark, should I move this? >> Will they be able to come over here or should we move it that way? Watch your step. >> Do you want fast? >> You want to do them by team? >> Uh, we can just read them.
>> Let's read it one time and then we'll just name. Yeah. Do you want to do the first three teams? I'll do the second. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Okay. Teams, right? >> Yeah. Unless we go and do one and one. One in one. >> No, that's only one time. >> We're reading that.
>> Do you want me to read or do you want to? >> Do you want to put more on the other side? Move them all up to the other side. >> Keep pushing to the left. >> Step to the left. Yeah. [laughter] >> His right.
>> Do it again next year, too. Keep it up. [laughter] >> We should have got rid of that. >> Come on in here. Come on up. >> You guys are little like me. >> You guys are little like me. You can come up. >> So, we got to keep We got to
>> Are we good? All right. >> No, we got it. We ready? >> Should we go further down? >> All right. Ready? >> That's fine. You can stay there. >> The city of Riviera. Michelle,
>> you get some help. Keep going. >> Where am I going? >> No room. >> Okay, we're going to read the certificate. I'm only going to read it once. Quiet. City of Riviera, Massachusetts. The
certificate of commenation. In acknowledgement of your outstanding participation during the Riviera versus Chelsea Boston tournament wherein you exhibited enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and commitment commitment to a friendly vi
rivalry that brought pride to the Riviera Senior Center by securing a victory over Chelsea. Special recognition is hereby accorded to Clauddio Cornelia, team one. This certificate of commendation is presented
by the city council of the city of Riviera, Massachusetts on behalf of its citizens this 24th day of November in the year of our lord 2025 of the independence of the United States of America the 249th
Clauddio Cornelia team one [applause] >> where is he one Jerry Damrosio, [applause] >> Tony Damrosio, [applause] >> Joe Mosone,
[applause] I thought [cheering] he was back there. Billy >> Rey, [applause] >> there you are. You're hiding on me. >> Fran Saro, [cheering] [applause]
>> Frank Alano, >> right here. [applause] >> My friend Mike Prisio. [cheering and applause] Thanks >> Marin Wlette [applause] >> Kathy Smith
[applause] >> Lonnie Powers [cheering] [applause] >> Phyllis Prisio >> Stevie Ray [applause] Paula Stevenson [applause] >> Lucriccia Duran [applause]
>> where she's over there. >> Lucricia Duran. >> We'll bring it at the end. >> Fred Sella. >> Ready. Rose Leverie, [applause] >> Millie Scatino, [applause]
>> Rosemary Pisano, >> Regina Franovich, [applause] >> Maria Safalo, [applause] >> Leah Depalo, Liz Haley [cheering]
[applause] >> Veto Damrosio >> Beverly for [applause] Angela >> Squitaryi. [applause] >> Last but not least, Anna Picardi. >> [cheering and applause]
>> Are these all? They weren't yet. >> Guys, congratulations. >> Thank you, Bobby. >> Congratulations to all of you. Madame clerk, next motion. >> Calendar item number four. The chief of police will provide the city council
with an update on the use of body cameras for officers to include cost and expected start time. >> Good evening, Chief. Thank you for coming up. So, um, >> I got a few questions from residents about this. >> Sure. >> And I just didn't have enough
information to to give to them. So, I figured this would be a great opportunity for not only us, but the public to hear about the the video cameras and whatnot. So, thank you for coming up. >> Yeah, my pleasure. >> So, we've been working on uh bodywn
camera program for many, many months. Um, we have an implementation plan. Um, we've negotiated with both unions on a policy. Uh, I have a 14page policy ready to be issued.
The cost of the programs just over 1.1 million over five years. We are putting the finishing touches on a state grant. That state grant became available October 30th. The applications are due no later than December 3rd.
I think we're in a really good position. I have um some of my team members with me. Not not as uh as good as a botchi team, but [laughter] uh Captain Chapman has been tasked with compiling and and writing the grant to put us in the best position we can to
take advantage of any funds that become available. um the the grant we could possibly get up to um $250,000 which would cover the first year of the body cam program. So um we're hoping um
that goes well. We should be hearing sometime in December on that according to the state. Um, as far as the timeline goes, the policy that I referenced would be issued in January. And, uh, to complement the actual paper version of
the policy, we will be doing a roll call training to make sure that all the officers are well aware of the policy. Um, the ability to ask any questions. Um, Lieutenant Turner is here. He is the head of the training division. He will be heading up the training for the
actual policy. Um from there we will launch a pilot program for somewhere between three to five officers who will volunteer to test out um the body warn cameras and get the
equipment in in order which are docking stations that the officers will have to um for lack of a better word dump the videos into. So, it's all cloud-based software that program um so the training for the pilot program would be in February along
with the equipment setup with the pilot program set to be launched late I'm hoping late um February to to early March. As far as the full program, we're looking at hardware delivery somewhere early March 2026. uh again installation
of that equipment training uh for the full department in March to April 2026 with full deployment for May. So that's kind of a thumbnail on um what
our implementation plan looks like and what the what the funds look like. >> Thank you very much. Um city council Angela Council. >> Thank you Mr. President. Thank you chief for coming up here. Um I looked into it a little bit and saw what my how the
surrounding cities are doing and um will there be a stipen for the police officers who wear the cameras? >> No, >> it was already negotiated in the in the last contract. >> Okay. Um do you know what the cost is going to be for the ongoing maintenance of them?
>> Uh we're looking at ballpark about 215,000 a year after the initial um for every year subsequent to the first year. And then uh my third question was um are you going actually I have four um are
you going to create a video evidence evidence unit? So that's [clears throat] Lieutenant Roli is here. She will be in charge of that. She will be um kicking off the pilot program to make sure that um you know we're we're ready for the
full deployment as far as storage redaction software things of that nature. So, uh, she will be in charge of that unit. >> Is there another cost to that cloud storage? >> No, everything's included in that in that price that I referenced. >> Excellent. Thank you so much.
>> You're welcome, >> Council Gino. >> Thank you, G, for coming today. I'm excited about this program. You're putting off with the cameras. As we know, we're on camera all day long anyways. It's about time that the officers agreed upon it, and we're going
in a good direction with this here. I mean, a lot of times you see video footage and you see one side of a story. It's going to be nice to know what the whole story what's going on with it. And I wish you luck with it and hope the officers are all on board and they all agree with you. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Kelly. >> Hi, Chief. I think this is great. Um, I just have a question though to follow up with counselor. She made me uh councelor Gino Sya made me think of it. So you said that um it's 1.1 million over 5
years and that covers the cloud storage. After that 5 years, is there there's no cost for the cloud storage or >> No, it would be re recurring, but we'd have to renegotiate the contract after that. >> I see. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other city
councilors? Council Novasowski. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh Chief, thank you. And I think this is a great idea. uh just not realizing what the program really is about. How many actual cameras are there being purchased? >> Uh 113 right now.
>> So So every officer >> Yes. >> that we have plus any future uh would get their own individual camera. >> Yes. >> It's not that there's one for uh a group for for shift one, shift two or shift three. They don't.
>> Very interesting. Thank you. Any other counselors? >> Okay, Chief, thank you very much. Thank you all for coming up. Great information and I'm very excited. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> This will be placed on file.
>> Calendar item number five, AFC Urgent Care located at 339 Squire Road will appear before the city council to conduct a presentation on the healthcare needs and services provided. >> Councelor McKenna. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I called for uh Shredder
to come up here and talk about a little bit about her urgent care that's located in uh 339 Squire Road, which is Northgate Shopping Center. And the reason why I did that is because um I had a couple of incidences
that I had to go to um get some health care. So, um, I wanted to go to Davis and I but I was in a in a little bit of pain. So, um, I Googled it and I found out that there's a healthc care uh,
urgent care in Northgate. So, I went in and there was nobody there. And uh, I said to the the receptionist, I said, "How come there's nobody here?" She says, "Because no one knows we're here." And I said, "Okay." But anyways, I went into the back room. It's so clean. It's
it's wonderful. And the reason why um this is in front of the council is to let the residents know that they can go to Northgate Shopping Center and uh get uh very very very good care. So, um
she's going to give a presentation and I'm going to give it to her. Pleasure. >> Thank you. You got to turn on the mic >> and name and address. >> Thank you so much, Councelor McKenna. Good evening, council members. My name is Shrea Patel and I am the director of
operations at AFC Urgent Care River located at the very busy Northgate Plaza. As counselor McKenna mentioned, many of our residents do not know that we're um located at the Northgate Plaza. We get new patients all the time and you
know, they always mention that we had no idea you were right down the corner. Um that's why I'm here today to talk about our services and what we have to offer. So to this month marks our oneyear anniversary. Um in terms of our clinic opening and our mission over this past
year has been very simple. It's to provide Revier with fast, accessible and highquality medical care. The reason why we open this clinic is for two major issues that a lot of community members face. one being long
emergency room wait times and the second being limited appointments at your primary care. Over the past year, we've also contracted with the River Police Department and the fire department. Just saw the officers. Um I've worked very
closely with Chief and Sergeant Turner to offer new hire physicals as well as required vaccinations and titers and drug screens. Um, additionally, we've offered discounted school physicals to u members of the River public school
system and we also offer other discounted services. Recently, we hosted a flu vaccine clinic for Rever residents promoting public health and safety. Within our clinic, we offer a comprehensive range of services
including blood testing and also X-ray on-site X-ray. we are fully equ uh equipped to do any sort of rapid testing whether it's flu, strep, COVID, as well as um any sort of STD testing. But yeah, that's why I'm here basically to let you
know that we're here and we're ready to serve. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any counselors? >> Council H. >> Thank you, Mr. President. M Miss Patel, thank you so much um for the presentation. I made the joke last week or two weeks ago that my daughter's
already been there twice um in probably a three-week span, but great addition to the city. Like you talked about long long lines in the ER or even driving, you know, 20 minutes just to just to be seen, but we look forward to to you guys
being in the city for a long long time. Thank you. >> Thank you. And I also just wanted to introduce that we started doing immigration physicals as of last Friday. So I know there's a huge immigrant population in River. So we offer those to the immigrants here as well. >> That's awesome. Thank you, councelor.
Any other city councilors? Council Janino, >> thank you. I've been there open day last year and I've been there twice myself since that opening day >> and um I said you guys do the DOT physicals down there. Yes. >> Which I didn't realize that until last
month and I went in there and I was in and out no time at all. >> Mhm. >> That I had an accident. I had an accident one day. >> Drove down the street and I was in and out of there in an hour. Thank you so much. >> Very helpful. Thank you. >> Thank you. No, we're ready to help. Anyone that needs any sort of medical care, we're here.
>> Thank you, Council Council Samuro. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, thank you for coming. Thank you for your presentation. I was one of the people up here that had no idea I was going to Lynn and other places for urgent care. I'm thrilled that you're here, but I think you need to do some advertising to
let people because if I'm on the city council, and I didn't know you were here until Council McKenna was praising you. So, uh, this is obviously a good, uh, a good spot for you tonight. You're letting a lot of people know you're there, but, uh, we're grateful to have you there and we want you to succeed, so
do some more advertising. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other counselors? No. Miss Patel, thank you for coming. I just have one question from the chair. >> Um, so any type of urgent care,
stitches, anything come to you. Okay. >> Yes, we do stitching, we do staples, sutures, any m minor procedures we can do. >> Awesome. That's again, I didn't know about it. Um, have you guys planned any type of ribbon cutting or >> We did. >> They did. Okay.
>> All right. Well, then people knew. Thank you very much, Miss Pat Mattel. Have a great night. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. >> This will be placed on file. >> Public hearings. Hearing call is ordered on the application of Shirley Avenue Realy Trust, Trustee James Perry, 65
County Road, Chelsea, requesting a special permit from the Revier City Council to allow the existing storefront in nine residential units to remain in place where city records indicate a storefront in six residential units at 85 Shirley Avenue. council.
>> Mr. President, uh good evening honorable members of the River City Council. My name is James Cipoleta, five Fremont Street in Winthrop. With me is the uh co-owner with his brother. It's uh Jim Perry. He and Tom own the own the building. Uh this came to our attention
while we were uh having some meetings with uh the housing task force over at ISD. Uh apparently there had been uh records in the city archives and in the assessor's office and elsewhere that this building contained six units and a
storefront when in fact when uh Jim and Tom bought it back around 25 years ago, it was as it is today with a storefront, a commercial storefront at ground level and uh nine units above. Um so to make
things seamless uh with our uh interaction with the uh task force and where the uh owners are doing some much needed and required safety upgrades uh they wanted us to come here and get a special permit to validate the other
three units. uh in terms of the um constitution of of the building of the nine units is one studio and eight one-bedroom units. Um so as we all probably know it is very close to public
transportation to the MBTA the the bus uh depot the uh train station and so forth. Um, ordinarily for um, under chapter 48, the uh, standard for whether or not a special permit needs to or
should be granted is whether or not the proposed uh, change is substantially more detrimental to the neighborhood than the existing condition. In this case, the existing condition is the existing condition and the proposed is
the existing. So I would uh I had uh conferenced uh with the ward counselor um uh m uh councelor Novaski who gave me some background and some history and some gave me a lesson in the law tonight that I didn't I learned more law from him tonight than I learned in court
today uh with regard to parking regulations and thank you for that. Um so if there are any questions uh about the zoning aspect of it I would be happy to answer them. Jim will be able to answer any of the other questions regarding the uh the building. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you, Councelor. Councelor
Novasowski. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, um I've known about this building for many, many years. And I didn't know the incidentals of what was going on with the number of units. I knew there were nine units in there, but I didn't
realize they only legal six. Um I we have no problem legalizing this. Uh, I just want to add that uh to make sure like we do with all the other multiple dwelling units that there be no u uh
leases given out with cars to people with cars that no visitor passes be issued and no permit passes be issued to any of the cars that may be there. They only have three I think three or four parking spaces in the back but uh that that'll be it for
them. They have to live on their own and something like that. So I would asked all that to be included in the uh permit. >> Thank you. >> Thank you counselor. Any other counselors? >> H my bad.
Okay. Do we have any other proponents? >> No. Okay. Do closing that side. Any opponents? Anyone here against? Okay. Now back to city councilors any council klando.
>> Thank you Mr. Presidents. Um councelor. Um so this was was this building originally six units and was it converted to nine? Was that >> We don't know. Uh when Jim and Tom bought it, it was 1999 or 2000, it was
nine units. And uh when ISD and the team from the housing task force went through, they they noticed that these were all older units. They did not do any conversion during their ownership. >> So they've been in existence essentially. So we would just be, you know, making it up to par essentially.
>> Yes, sir. They'd be validating the number of units and uh ISD will be uh doing the inspections. Yes. >> Thank you. and and I would be in favor [clears throat] of councelor Novaski's idea to put this under title 10 to not allow for resident stickers. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors?
Permission to speak from the chair. Go >> ahead. >> Um councelor does um on in the nine units, will they all be up to code? Are they all up to code? Will they be brought up to code? Was what was the issue that brought this forward? I I think there was some violations that
were called into ISD and as is uh the practice of the task force, they will go down there and they check out whether the electrical is up to code and whether some of the health standards are being uh complied with and that's how um the u
people from ISD and the associated departments um got in there and then they found out u that according their records did not jive with the number of units that they out and and yes, they're being brought up to code. >> Excellent. Thank you very much, councelor.
Um, this will be referred to zoning on December 1st. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. >> Public comment pursuant to chapter 402 of the acts of 1965. Now go moving to public comment. Anyone here that's a River resident or business
owner that would like to come forward could speak for two minutes. Please state your name, address, and the motion or issue on the agenda that you'll be speaking on. Two minutes. Thank you. >> Name and address. >> Uh good evening council. Jim Carrier 193
Crescent A. Uh motion 25-305 presented by councelor McKenna uh that the mayor request the uh mass dot uh don't block the box on the intersection of Crescent A and Bennington Street. Uh
this is a long time coming. It's a we're experiencing a lot of gridlockdown in that area right now. Um, and hopefully in the near future, HYM will step up to the plate and as promised, we'll be redoing our Beach One Square over. Uh,
so, but for now, this would, uh, help out greatly. Um, alleviate a lot of the traffic, the school traffic that goes through that area, uh, and a lot of the, uh, people that cut through from Winthrop down onto Crescent A, uh, to
get onto Bennington to go to Boston. So, this is a great motion and uh hopefully we can uh get this uh uh done and taken care of for the uh residents of uh Ward One. Thank you. Thank you, Jimmy. Anyone else?
>> Okay, closing that and moving on. >> Unfinished business. Calendar item number seven, an ordinance repealing section 9.12.030 030 posting political signs of the revised ordinances of the city of Rivier. >> Councel Cogno. >> Thank you, Mr. President.
Unconstitutional, uninforceable. Thank you. >> Any other counselors? >> Mr. President. >> Counselor. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, uh, you know, everybody says, you know, it's unconstitutional, it's uninforcable. Uh people have a right to
put signs up, but our thing is not to stop them permanently. It's trying to restrict how long they're going to be up. And I don't see anything wrong with that. People still have their fifth amendment and their first amendment and whatever other amendments they can come
up with. Uh we're looking to keep our city clean and I still see signs up there now which people under the current ordinance they're supposed to take them down seven days after the election. And I'll tell you these signs are ugly.
You know, people may think they're nice and they put people's names out there to be voted on. The election's over. There's no need for signs to be up 365 days a year, which someone could do once you eliminate this. You know, I'm
against repealing this. It's worked over the last 12 years. The only reason it's not uninforceable is because the people who are responsible for it don't want to enforce it. The police department won't do it
because for their own reasons. >> [clears throat] >> ISD is the zoning police. They are the zoning police. They're the ones that are supposed to enforce stuff like this, not if someone got a call, you know, to the election department, they would refer it
to ISD. They're the ones that are supposed to enforce it. Again, enforcement like anything else, going through stop signs, it's important. and its enforcement can't be done everywhere, but for the short period of time that this is in in
operation, it should be. I've been in this city for 78 years. And every year that they've been taken down, the city looks clean and neat and respectable. You eliminate this, you're ruining that.
So, I will be voting against this. Thank you. Thank you, Council Council Cogando. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I wasn't going to say anything else. Um, but if we have an ordinance on the books that's against the law proven by case
law from the United States Supreme Court and our police department or zoning enforcement officer in the city out of ISD decide that they want to enforce our ordinance, which is unconstitutional, that opens the city up to litigation.
Now, we have signs up still. No big deal. They'll get taken down, I'm sure. But this ordinance in no way is is determining whether or not those signs stay up. We can keep signs up for 365 days a year because it's our
constitutional right. But I know personally most people don't want their signs, political signs on their property after the election. A lot of people throw them away. So, I'm sorry. I just I I I I feel like there was a little bit of misinformation in there. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Zambo. >> Uh thank you, Mr. President. Listen, first of all, I want to commend my colleague from W 2. A dozen years or so ago, we had a real problem and he solved it. It turns out now it's
unconstitutional. But we don't have that same problem. Most people obey our a gentleman's agreement and take the signs right down after an election. So, uh, in this instance, like I said, I want to commend my law two council. He came up with a
great solution back then. It's over with. It worked. He's a victim of his own success and uh, we've got to move on and and now we can't we can't keep this ordinance on the book. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other counselors?
Madam Clerk, can we have a roll call? Shall the city council approve an ordinance repealing section 9.12.030 posting political signs of the revised ordinances of the city of Reier? Councelor Arenzio. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Cogleandro. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Councelor Janino. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Gino SA. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hass. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Jammo is absent. Councelor Kelly. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor McKenna. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Novaski. >> No. >> No. Councelor Zamudo. >> Yes. >> Yes. and council president Sylvester. >> Yes.
>> Yes. The ordinance is engrossed and ordained. >> Calendar item number eight, communication from the chief of planning and community development relative to a proposed special act to support the family of Robert O'Brien. >> Council Koliano.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh the Ways and Means subcommittee met earlier today at 5:00 PM. We had two orders of business on our agenda. The first one was 24-257 which was voted unfavorably by the subcommittee uh and the second was
25-107 which was placed on file asking for a roll call. >> Mr. President, I'd like to present a minority report. >> I withdraw my roll call request. >> Kaza. >> Thank you. This is um in reference to
Mr. uh Robert O'Brien. Um, as you know, he left the employment of the city at 81 years old. Uh, he didn't take his retirement. Uh, when he was here, he filled out a form, uh, taking option D
on his, uh, retirement form. Uh, this option D would provide approximately $82 to his widow, who was also in her 80s. Uh, this certainly wasn't Mr. O'Brien's intent.
And as the family pursued this um there was some decisions and opinions given and I read this at the subcommittee meeting but for the edification of the rest of the members uh a Mr. Kenneth
Foron u rendered an opinion and uh to the extent that he thought about it now this is Mr. O'Brien. It is likely he thought that his option D allowance was null and void once leaving uh employment. Since he is not an attorney,
he turned to the Commonwealth's website for guidance. After all, the contributo retirement law is notoriously complex. Unfortunately, the guidance on the website was erroneous and they they've
been told this. They've yet to take it down, but that's what he was using as guidance. Therefore, I encourage Miss O'Brien to seek special legislation permitting her to wave her allowance and collect her husband's remaining total accumulated deductions.
The Rever board does not oppose this relief and PERK has already offered its assistance in pursuing this option. So, I believe this is just uh writing an injustice. Uh Mr. O'Brien in his 80s uh
sought the uh advice of this website, the Commonwealth's website. The website was misleading and it the Commonwealth has agreed that has it is misleading and I I think that uh in deference to
his uh family um that we should put this special legislation forward. Now the key thing here for me, I know some members have said that this will open floodgates or we'll start a a process, but our own
rever does not oppose this. So I am sure in their wisdom if they thought that this was going to off have some sort of floodgate opening or that they would have made us aware of
that. They do not oppose it. So given the rever retirement board and the opinion of this gentleman, Mr. Kenneth Foron, um I ask that we look favorably on sending this to special legislation and uh making it right here from Mr.
O'Brien's family. Roll call, please in the affirmative. >> Const. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh I I wasn't going to repeat what I said at the subcommittee meeting, but I think it's important because uh if uh my
colleague wants to make a minority report and repeat what he said, I think I need to put on the table why I'm so vehemently against this. And it's certainly not because I didn't like Mr. O'Brien. God rest his soul. He was a
wonderful man. Did great work. Uh, and if I was voting on the merits of who he was and what he did, I would probably support this. Unfortunately, I'm up here as a city council of protecting the taxpayer. And uh, I've once rescended
special legislation on a on similar thing to this because it put the city at risk for 8 to10 million dollars of people that could come along and get the same thing. And once you do it once, you have to keep doing it. So this is my
position. I I am vehemently against special legislation to do this because it sets a precedent. That's not what I'm up here to do. I'm up here to do what's right for the taxpayer, not what my heart wants me to do, not what, you know, what emotionally I would like to
do. I got to do what's right. And that's why I'm vehemently against this. and I will vote no on it. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Kelly. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. President. I just have a question. Do we have any information from the retirement board
that speaks to what the consequences of this could possibly be? Do we have any of that information in terms of setting a precedent? If I might try to respond to that, uh,
simply filing special legislation sets precedent, no matter what the opinion of anybody is. >> Right. But my question specifically is speaking to the monetary consequences of it, what what they might be. >> Well, >> you mentioned 8 to10 million. I don't
know. >> Oh, no, no, I wasn't referring to this particular pension. 8 to10 million was a pension that we rescended. >> Okay? >> That was that was a past tense. It was just an example I was using. It has nothing to do with this particular
thing. But it it did set precedent and it also set precedent when this council rescended the special legislation. Okay. >> So that's that's >> I think I would like information from the retirement. >> I I agree. in um the clerk has a an
email that she'd like to read into record. >> This email is from the retirement board back from September of 2024 when this was initially proposed to the city council. Historically, when special legislation is received um given to the
city council for consideration, the retirement board uh gives a little information back to see what it would hypothetically cost. Uh my email to the retirement board read as follows. Uh, please include a hypothetical cost of the retirement system if all employees who currently have selected an
option D lifetime allowance for their beneficiary wanted to receive a lump sum payment instead. Mr. Provinol of the retirement board writes back, okay, understood. Thank you for the clarification. Almost all of our option D's have received benefit payment
totals surpassing the original annuity refund amount. The only exception being Melinda Fanti who would be eligible for a payout of approximately $39,000. >> So if I may, so if I'm understanding that correctly, just for clarification,
there would be no monetary consequences in terms of setting a precedent that the city would suffer other than that possible 39,000. Is that a correct statement? That would be if hypothetically if Melinda Ferranti would come up and ask
the same thing. The benefit as indicated in the special legislation before you is about 80 $79,000. >> Thank you. >> Point of information, Mr. President. >> Council state point. >> I just want to make it clear that this is their money. This is money that Mr.
O'Brien contributed. So it's it's not taxpayer money or anything like that. It's it's money that he was that he contributed. Um I I just want to make that clear that this isn't some fund. Thank you, >> Council Kliano.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh I just want to say that I echo the same concerns as council Zambau and that's why I voted no. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? Permission to speak from the chair. Um, I I have a t a tough time with this
because I too really liked Bob as a man. Uh, I respected the work he did for the city. Um, but there's a little bit more to it that I'm not sure we want to disclose. Um, but like the time frame of
by when he resigned, um, to when he could possibly have moved, uh, the amount of money was earned in that time. there are a lot of other issues at play that than just him resigning and staying in rever and and this option coming
about. Um and those are my struggles and issues. Um it it's in a way almost um honoring a bad behavior in in a way and I hate saying that but it it's the truth. Uh and that's why I would be
against this. So um anyone else? Madame clerk, if we could re have a roll call. Shall the city council approve an act exempting Annette v. O'Brien from being awarded a member survivor allowance as set forth in chapter 32 section 12
subsection 2 subsection D of the general laws and instead receive a one-time lumpsum payment of the accumulated total deduction account of Robert B. O'Brien on file with the Riviera Contributo Retirement System. Councelor Arenzio, >> yes.
>> Yes. Councelor Cogleandro, >> no. >> No. Council Jino, >> no. >> No. Councelor Go SA. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hass, >> no. >> No. Councelor Hermo is absent. Councelor Kelly, >> no. >> No. Council McKenna, >> no. >> No. Council Nobasellski, >> yes.
>> Yes. Councelor Zambo, >> no. >> No. And Council President Sylvester, >> no. >> No. The special legislation fails. Yes. Ways and means community point. Sorry. >> Sorry. >> I'm sorry. He doesn't understand. I am
sorry. >> Don't you understand? >> Where are we now? Subcommittee reports. >> Appointments. Oh, >> I did. I did. >> Yeah, he did announce. >> Before we before we move on, can I uh suspend the rules?
under suspension of rules. Council, >> uh, I'd like to file for reconsideration in the hopes that it does not prevail. >> On reconsideration, >> all in favor, all opposed. >> You got it.
>> Back to the regular order of business. >> Next up is the appointment subcommittee report. >> Council McKenna, >> thank you. Uh tonight we had seven appointments and reappointments. Uh we had to place one on file, but I'd like to place and everybody came tonight. It
was unbelievable. We never had that. Uh everybody seems very qualified. Uh so I would really like to take this out. I would like to uh vote on it favorably tonight. Madam clerk, >> shall the city council confirm the
appointments as reported by chairwoman McKenna? Councelor Aenzio. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Cogandro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Jino. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Garino Slayo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hass. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Haramio is absent. Councelor Kelly.
>> Yes. Yes. Councelor McKenna. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Nasilski. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Zambudo. >> Yes. >> Yes. And council president Sylvester. >> Yes. >> Yes. The appointments have been confirmed. Calendar item onto motions. Calendar item number 17. Motion presented by
council McKenna that the mayor request mas dot to mark a don't block the box on Bennington Street and the intersection of Crescent Avenue. >> Council McKenna. >> Thank you, Mr. President. So, this is the second time that I've put this uh motion in and it has been done. Um what
happens is uh traffic backs up on Crescent Dev. They try to get out uh take a left to go to Boston. And what happens is if the traffic is um uh all the way down to Beachmont um school,
they can't get out. And once if someone lets them out, then there's two rows of cars. They can't see who's coming in the opposite direction and someone's going to get whacked. So, I just I you know, these boxes do work. Um especially in
California. California has them everywhere. Um and I would like to see more of them uh come to rever because they really do work. So, um I'm putting this motion in as the second time and I hope it uh I hope mass dot does the right thing. Thank you.
>> Thank you, council. Any other counselors? All in favor? All opposed? Salt water. Challenger item number 18. Motion presented by councilors McKenna Cogleandro and Novasolski that the mayor request mastoot to mark a don't block the box on VFW Parkway at the
intersection of be beach street. Councel Zambudo is also recused from this motion. >> Councelor >> um so this is the same thing. Uh again, do not block um the box. Uh there's that uh intersection from Beach Street to um
the VFW Parkway. Uh what happens is people try to run the light at Beach uh Beach Street and then there's a row of cars and the opposite direction they can't get through. So if um if we could do that, if mass dot uh if we can get ma
mass do to do this, I think like I said uh do not block the box should be we we should use it more. We have one on rever street and it works unbelievable. So thank you. >> Thank you councelor councelor Novaskiro.
Council Novaski. >> Thank you Mr. President. Uh, this has been on I'm glad you're putting this in, councelor. Uh, this has been on my mind for a long time. Um, this is the uh the midpoint of wad three and wad two right
now. It used to be wad two and wad five. Uh, and it is a very bad intersection. The people that are blocking the intersection don't even live in rever. >> It's all the people coming from out of town. And for anybody who wants to know, it's right where back when it used to be
the old Abel Ford location. Uh now it's uh a burrito a burrito uh uh restaurant. So uh there is a sign there that says don't block the intersection, >> but people don't
understand it and they don't do it. They still block and cause major gridlock at that intersection. Very bad. and I hope we can get masked to do this paint job. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor Conandra. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I echo
everything my fellow counselor said. And for those of you who don't know what a don't block the box is, it's pretty much a giant painted X that you're not supposed to block. So, if you see it and there's traffic, don't roll into it because you don't have to go right up to the car in front of you. Leave that
space. It's there for a reason. That's it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, counselor. Any other counselors? All in favor, all opposed. So ordered. >> Calendar item number 19. Motion presented by councelor McKenna that the mayor request masdot to increase the timing of the traffic signalization on
women. No, I know >> that the mayor request mascot to increase the timing of the traffic signalization on Winthre Avenue for traffic headed west to Re Beach Parkway and Lower Winthre Avenue. The current timing has traffic backed up to the intersection of Winthreb and Northshore
Road during rush hour. >> Council McKenna. >> Thank you, Mr. President. So, I don't know if anybody has noticed, but on uh Winthrop uh and uh go heading towards Broadway, um the light there over the bridge where the bridge is in the big inter
intersection. Uh it allows maybe six cars. So, now the traffic is getting backed up all the way down to the police station. Um and uh it's we just need to increase it because it's ridiculous. you sit there for five lights, you know. So,
um I really do think I hope this is uh we have three mass dot um requests on the table. I just hope they can come through and uh just increase the signal signalization there because we really need to get the flow of uh traffic
moving. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? All in favor? All opposed? So ordered. and noted that councelor Zambudo is recused from that motion and this motion coming up. Calendar item number 20 motion presented by council no Bilski that the mayor request the
department of planning and community development to work with DCR masdot and the traffic commission to reduce the crosswalk at the intersection of Campbell A and Rivera Beach Parkway for the safety of pedestrians and traffic safety. Also, since there is a new opening at the median strip for the
Reier Fire Department, the reduction will force cars to take a right onto the parkway instead of crossing over to head to Beach or Suffach Downs. This request was previously submitted in 2023 with no action. >> Council Novasowski. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh if
everybody has gone on the rear beach parkway opposite the uh engine one station uh they made an opening to make it easier for the fire engines to cross over and head to Broadway or uh any other location other than uh Shirley A
or W 2. Uh and since they left that opening potential is that people will come down Campbell A cross over the Parkway even though some at some point they will be putting a set of lights there for the fire department only for
traffic lights. Uh and that won't stop people from doing it. And if everybody realizes the width of Campbell A, which at one time used to be a two-way street and the cur the curvature of the uh roadway, allows them to take a right off
uh the parkway heading west onto Campbell A. Well, now everybody just goes down Campbell A and has to take a right to go west to Broadway. So, what I'm looking for is to shorten the the uh
crosswalk and help let them design the roadway so the people have to take the right and cannot take to go straight across and cross over traffic with no tra uh traffic signal controls at that
location. So, it's very bad intersection. It's making it worse for pedestrians and oncoming cars in both directions. So, I hope you will pass this. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? All in favor, all opposed.
So, ordered. >> Calendar item number 21. Motion presented by councelor Gino SA that the mayor request the department of planning and community development and the emergency management director to begin the process of enrolling the city of reair in FEMA's community rating system program if the city is not already
enrolled and to take the ne necessary steps to update flood plane management practices to meet FEMA standards. further that the departments provide the council with a report outlining required actions, recommended ordinance updates, and potential benefits to residents,
including reductions in flood insurance premiums. >> Council Garino Sua. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, this motion is about strengthening Riviera's participation in the FEMA program and protect our residents and lower their costs. We already participate in the
National Flood Insurance Program, but there are additional FEMA programs available, including the community um rating system, the CRS, that can reduce flood insurance premiums for homeowners like myself who live in a flood plane
zone, and encourage stronger flood prevention practices across the city. Right now, River is not enrolled in the CRS program. So, we will need to update any of our ordinances or procedures to qualify. Therefore, I'm asking the
planning department and our emergency management team to review our status and start the enrollment process and report back to the council um perhaps in the new year and um or any steps needed to
keep us fully compliant with the FEMA standards. Um, it's a proactive step to protect residents, strengthen our flood resilience, and ensure that our community receives every benefit it's entitled to. And I ask for the council's support. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? All in favor? All opposed? >> So ordered. >> Calendar item number 22. Motion presented by councelor Go Suaya that the mayor request the city solicitor to draft an ordinance establishing a
building emissions reduction and disclosure program for the city of River including one [snorts] annual reporting of energy and water use for large buildings. Two, phased emissions reduction standards to meet climate goals. Three, technical assistance for building owners prioritizing low income
and environmental justice areas. Four, enforcement for non-compliance and incentives for strong or early reductions. Five, a designated city office to run the program in in a fund to support emissions reduction pro projects. And six, authority for the appropriate department to issue
regulations. >> Council go. >> Um, Rev needs a straightforward modern system to track and reduce emissions for our largest buildings in the city. the Berto program, which is the building's emission reduction and disclosure ordinance. Um, it's to give us accurate
data on energy and water use and to set practical standards for cutting emissions over time and helps us meet the long-term climate goals that everyone's looking to meet. Um, it's about making sure that REI is prepared, resilient, and doing its part to protect
our community from the growing impacts of climate change. I'm following um suit with I would like to follow suit with Lynn who has already looked into this and passed the building energy reporting and disclosure ordinance in 2022 and it applies to
buildings that are 20,000 square foot or larger and residents um residential buildings that have over 20 units. So, it's just a way to keep us more focused and um on fairness and support and ensures that building
owners, especially those in the low income and environmental justice neighborhoods, have access to technical support and resources to meet the standards and includes enforcement tools and incentives for stronger compliance. It's just responsibil responsible steps
on strengthening Rivier's future and while supporting the people who live and work here. So, it's just a new program that I think the city should look into. I'm not asking for us to pass anything, but I'm looking for the city to look into the program if it's feasible for us. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor. Council Zamuro. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. President. As much as I love my colleague from Five, this is something I can never support. Number one, there's a, you know, there's so much in here. I'll just start with that creating a department like this is going
to cost the taxpayers a lot of money. Um, when I hear terms like environmental justice, etc., etc., etc., I just it it it it spells the end of uh where I
stand. I just I can't support this. First of all, before I could even consider supporting some of it, because there's some good stuff in here, uh, we need some kind of financial analysis on what's this what creating this department is going to cost, what's the salary of these people's, what they
actually do, what are we really looking for here. It's there's a lot of good cliches in here, but I'm not sure any of them are going to help the citizens. So, uh, there's a lot to look at here and and I'm I'm happy to look at it, but I
see dollar signs when I see these terms. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Council McKenna. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to uh add Massport on that, too. >> Uh, Massport, the planes give out more admissions than anything. Is uh
detrimental to our health. every single day we breathe these little emissions, these little black uh things that you from the jet fuel that you can't see. Uh I think I think that's where we should be headed, not you know and then the buildings. But um
that's just my take on it. But um if we can include Massport on this with the planes because the planes do go over Lynn, they go over uh Point of Pines and they go over Beachmont. So thank you. Are you okay with her adjustment? >> I agree. Absolutely.
>> Madame clerk, could you add massport to the admission justice? >> So there would be an amendment [clears throat] to include you want annual reporting of >> of what from Massport?
>> Emissions. >> Emissions. Annual reporting of emissions from from Massport. >> But before we go to a roll call. >> Yes. [snorts] Council, >> thank you. I had a um air quality study um from Tus University in my backyard uh
for six years and um I had uh Patrick Keefe call uh the head of Tus University to ask them for the data on what they um recorded in my uh yard
um for six years and we haven't gotten that yet. Um, and so I would suggest that we um maybe talk to um TUS universities to see if we can get the admissions and that would give us a good
start on I mean um the data that they recorded and and that would give us a good start on what we're what the um what we're breathing >> every day. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor. Councelor Candiano. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to
be clear. This motion states that we're sending this to the city solicitor to draft an ordinance. So there will by default be a lot more discussion on this. Um so I would support it as it is now and then we can pick it apart as
needed as we go. Thank you. >> Thank you councelor. Councel has >> Thank you, Mr. President. My question is to councelor McKenna. Counselor, you said six years. I think I remember when they were doing that study. >> Six years. I had a um a box as big as um
what Mark sitting on. >> And was that in >> and that was on my >> partnership with the city? >> Um no, it was just a study that um the friends of Bell Isle asked me to um do um and it was a TUS University study and
we had kids come up every single week to get the data. So they have the data and I've asked uh the professor that's in charge if he would give us the data uh the city the data because um I don't know if you know but Massport did a
study it took him 10 years to do a study on Beachmont and uh on Riviera about the emissions that uh spew from the the planes and they said it was inconclusive. They couldn't they couldn't give us a a a
correct answer because they didn't know if it was coming from the trucks that were going through the streets and and so they they botched it and we and I don't know if you know this but asthma's up, COPD is up. Um and I really do
relate. I hate to say this and maybe I shouldn't, but I feel like there's a lot of dementia around in Beachmont, especially uh amongst women. And I just feel that if you look at the um uh UK,
they did a study on admissions with the planes and they feel that there is a a connection. So, um I mean, I could take this I've been working on this for 25 years and gotten nowhere. >> I agree with you, too. I'm just curious why it took so long.
>> I mean, if you want to talk about the health of Revier, that's where you start. It's the planes. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other city councilors? >> Okay. All in favor? All opposed?
>> So, ordered. Calendar item number 23, motion presented by councelor Kelly, that the mayor request the chief of police to require Popeye's and Squire Road to provide a police detail for the grand opening of the establishment and continue throughout the following two weeks of their opening in order to calm
traffic and congestion in that area. >> Councelor Kelly. >> Thank you, Mr. President. So, this is really just a pro I'm trying to be a proactive here. Um the timing here might be a little tricky because I I think that Popeye's will be
opening fairly soon. They were waiting on a couple of um permits and I think they have received those write offs on those permits if they haven't. They will be shortly. We all know that the traffic in that area um at Northgate with Market
Basket between Thanksgiving and Christmas can be challenging >> um to say the least. And I'm just concerned that the timing of the grand opening of Popeye's in conjunction with the increased traffic that we see at Market Basket and Northgate during the
holiday season is just going to be a perfect storm. So this is just to be proactive. Um have this detail there. Hopefully we can um calm some traffic measure, you know, as a traffic calming measure and um ease some congestion in
that area. So um just hoping we can get that done. Thank you. Thank you, councelor Councelor Janino. >> Thank you, councelor Kelly, for this motion here. I says, I drove by a couple times over the weekend. There were people in Packland already trying to get in the building, shaking the doors. Got to put signs up on it. Traffic on Friday
and Saturday was backed up around Copen Circle. So, I think this is a great idea and a great motion, counselor. >> Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? >> Council Kelly, great motion. All in favor? All opposed? So, ordered. Calendar item number 24, motion
presented by council president Sylvestri that the mayor request the CFO to appear before the city council to conduct a presentation on the local property tax exemptions for veterans. >> Um me uh motion speaks for itself. Uh CFO will actually have the assessor
coming up. I I just I I got a bunch of questions asked over the campaign season about the tax break if it was actually doubled the number of it. Few veterans are misunderstanding it. So having him come out and explain um I think it will benefit everyone. Any other counselors?
All in favor? All opposed? So ordered. This close tonight's business. Thank you and have a great Thanksgiving.