I went meeting. We feel like you're responsible fault. Kate, you ready? Hey, how was it? We are, you're so fantastic. You're just so fantastic. That's what you told. Yeah, that's right. I think meow here. Thank you. Pledge allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, Mr. One Nation under God and Invisible with Liberty Justice Trial. Thank you. Let's see. There are no minutes to review public participation now
comes a portion of the meeting anyone wishing to address. The city council may do so by stepping forward. Stating your name and address for the city clerk in three minute increments for a total of 15 minutes. Anyone wishing to address the council, please step forward. Good evening. I'm Kevin CLE from 86 Broad Street. First of all, on a happy note, I would like to thank Councilor Adams and Councilor Burns for helping me when I fell down, going walking down, uh, broad Street. Um, really helpful. And you and I also got a lot of tearing apart from that,
from, from from Councilor Burns about you shouldn't be doing this, you shouldn't be doing that. So I didn't do that for a while. I didn't do that. So it worked. You went Back home. Yes, exactly. I turned right around. I didn't go for any further there. Um, which brings me to the sidewalks on Broad Street. They're awful. I tripped twice over that and was witnessed by both of them. And I had to have the fire department come and bring me, pick me up 'cause I couldn't get, and I'm a big guy, so it's really hard for, you know, they probably needed four people to pick
Me up. So, yeah, I tried to put you in my cow one time. That was almost impossible. So I just wanted to make sure that, thank you guys for everything you do, and bring up the fact that, um, we're still waiting, you know, what's going on with the sidewalks? I heard that there, there's something's happening with them, but we have a lot of plateaus that are like this for in the front, in here in, in, in clumsy. Kevin will come and grab him and fall. So I just wanna make sure you knew that. And also, I just wanted to find out, and I already found this out, but a, a time limit on, uh, on the crosswalk
for Broad Street when they're gonna start the project. And that's all I have. Thank you very much. Thank You. Thank you, Kevin. If you want, I got that on video too. So, Hey Kevin, just for the record, Kevin, just for the record, councilor Burns actually helped to pick you up, right? You didn't have to call the fire department, right? Just for the record. Anyone else like to address the council here, Get harassed By the council. Good evening. Uh, for the record, uh, Chris Wobo, airport manager at Westfield Barnes Regional Airport. As some of you are aware, um, I am going to be stepping down as airport manager, uh, with mixed emotions.
But, um, my last day will be Friday, April 11th, uh, earlier, uh, this evening at the Airport Commission meeting, uh, the airport commission voted to appoint, uh, Jeff Lovejoy as acting airport manager. So he'll be the point of contact, uh, for the council and, and for City Hall, uh, moving forward till a permanent, uh, airport manager is selected. Um, I am starting a new job on Monday, April 14th, so I don't have much of a break, but, um, I've been selected to be the airport director at Hanscomb Airfield, which is,
uh, located in the eastern part of the state. So it's an exciting opportunity, uh, for me, uh, incredible career opportunity as well as, uh, for my family. So, um, I will miss Westfield for sure. But over the past five years as airport manager, I've had the, uh, honor to work closely with a dedicated airport management team, dynamic airport commission supportive mayor and city council, active airport tenant community, and engaged residences and businesses here in Westfield.
Together we have increased aircraft operations, over 20% increased direct airport revenues over 40% to 1.4 million annually, and that number continues to grow. Hopefully, if Jeff is still acting or the new manager at the end of this fiscal year, that number will be even higher. Um, while implementing a $60 million airfield airside, uh, capital Infrastructure Improvement program, and we leverage federal, state grants and private sector investments while minimizing City of Westfield tax dollars.
I want to sincerely thank the city of Westfield to have the opportunity to serve as airport manager over the past five years and firmly believe in the optimistic future of the airport with continued strategic investment generating positive economic impacts for Western Massachusetts. So please continue to support the airport moving forward. Um, some of you may be aware, we had our first electric aircraft fly in. Mm-hmm. If you saw it on our Facebook page that happened this week, that charger that we put in last fall, it actually got used by Beta Technologies the other day.
So there's a lot of exciting activities in the future, but once again, thank you for the opportunity to been airport managers. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Chris. I know I speak for everybody on the council, but you've done a tremendous job there. Yes, it's a big loss for the city of Westfield, but we appreciate everything you've done. Yes, Thank You. Yes. Anyone else like to address the council? Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, a constituent asked to have a letter read and, um, she's in my ward, so I'd like to read it for her. Dear City Council members, while I appreciate the reason zoning planning and development committee's efforts in discussion regarding the proposed chicken ordinance,
I'm deeply concerned that the current proposal has strayed too far from its original intent, and now presents significant risk to Westfield's residents and public health. The initial proposal by Councillor Figy contains some reasonable restrictions to ensure responsible chicken keeping. However, the revised ordinance emerging from the committee has drastically reduced those restrictions. Her key concerns are lot size and setback re reductions. The original proposal required a 7,500 square foot lot, but this has been reduced to 5,000 square feet without sound justification. The original 15 foot setback from property lines has been
reduced to 10 feet, again, without compelling reason, other than a general sentiment that everyone should have a chance to have chickens. Not every property is suitable for backyard chickens and such drastic reductions increase the likelihood of neighborhood disputes and health hazards. Lack of public health oversight. The Board of Health should be in, should be the enforcing authority for this ordinance, as is the case in most municipalities. But there's been no public discussion regarding their role. There was no discussion of stormwater runoff containment from coops, which could lead to contamination of wetlands, rivers, and streams, and proper sanitary disposal of manure and deceased TENS has not been addressed.
Creating risks for odor problems in pest infant stations. Um, it is a long letter. She has concerns about the permit inspection process. She has concerns about the environmental and zoning compliance issues, and she has concerns about rodent and pest control risks and lack of public input and transparency. She has recommendations for revising the ordinance. She like Board of Health Oversight, mandatory to scale plot plans and sanitation pest control measures. And her conclusion is Westfield does not have the financial means to correct a mistake of this magnitude once it's made. Instead of creating unnecessary risk
by rushing this proposal forward, we should learn from well-structured regulations, which include strong Board of Health oversight, clear Waste Management policies and zoning compliance measures. I strongly urge the council to send this back to committee for them to reconsider the current draft and reinstate reasonable restrictions before moving forward. Sincerely, Carolyn Healy. 15 Livingston Avenue, Westfield. Thank you. Anyone else like to address the council? Seeing none communications from the mayor. Item one Councilor Figgy. Thank you Mr. President. Please add Madam City Clerk three times one and two. Refer to finance. Second motion made
it seconded. Madam City Clerk One appropriation in the amount of $145,581 and 80 cents from free cash to the fire department supply account to equip the new Northside engine. Three with specialty firefighting and rescue equipment. Two transfer of $296,915 from the PEG undesignated account to the PEG vehicles account to purchase a Sprinter van that will be customized for use as a mobile production vehicle. Thank you. Any questions under sending finance? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? None in the hands of finance. Item three. Council Oniskey. Thank You Mr. President, would you please ask Madam
City Clerk to read him? Uh, read items three, four, and five and submit to l and o and law. Second. Motion made it seconded. Madam City Clerk Three, submitting a resolution to approve and accept a conservation restriction at 1342 East Mountain Road. Four. Submitting an order transferring care, custody management, and control of certain parcel of land, known as the former St. Kms Church, located at 38 Parkside Avenue. And an and an adjacent lot on Kam Street. From the Westfield Public Schools to the city of Westfield five. Submitting an ordinance amending Chapter 18, article two, division three, division Public work section 18 dash 1 22. Refuse and recycling.
Thank you. Any questions, councilor Harris? Uh, Thank you Mr. President. I'd just like to make one comment on item number five. Uh, this proposes $85 to $260 per barrel for your waste management fee per year. Uh, chair Oniskey and Councilor Burns, who also is a liaison to DPW and Councillor Adams, who is a, a large business owner, uh, will do a good job, I'm sure, in their committee. And I wanna assure everybody that I will never vote for this increase. Thank you. Any more questions or comments? Seeing none. All in favor?
Sorry. Hang on. I didn't see you. Kristin. Um, Councillor Mul. Thank you, Mr. I just wanted to, uh, echo that I, I feel very similar to the counselor to my left, and I also have a really, I, I have a really strong reaction to the idea of increasing the fee to the users before we get our financial house in order with that department. And I just wanted to say so to the committees to please look into that for us. Thank You. Yeah. Thank you. Anything further? All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Now in the hands of law. And o Item six. Councillor Harris.
Uh, thank you. And thank you, uh, for permitting me to speak on that last item. Uh, please ask, uh, Madam Clerk to read number six and refer to the Personal action committee. Second. Motion made it seconded. Madam City Clerk six. Submitting the reappointment of Alison Mc Morty to the position of city engineer for a term to expire July, 2028. Any questions? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? None in the hands of personnel action reports of city officers. Item seven, counselor Matthews Kane. Thank You, Mr. President. Please have the city Clerk read item number seven and refer
To license second. Motion made it. Second Madam City Court. Seven. City Clerk Keland Brew, submitting the annual Fortune Teller junk dealer and junk collector license renewals for 2025. Thank you. Any questions on the licenses? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Two Item eight, councilor Harris. Thank you Mr. President. Uh, before I ask for immediate consideration and, um, motion for immediate consideration, I'd just like to explain that just a few months ago, we, uh, I don't wanna say approved, but we accepted the disclosure form for, uh, Tracy plu. This is just increasing his hours, uh, a few hours
to be a part-time community outreach work, uh, worker. And, uh, it has been accepted by the Chief of Police. So I make a motion for immediate consideration. Second for number eight. Second motion made and second on immediate consideration. All in favor? A. Aye. Opposed? Now under suspension counselor. Thank you. Uh, number eight is Westfield Police Department employee Tracy J plu, submitting a disclosure as a municipal employee of financial interest and a municipal contract per MGL Chapter 2268, a Section 20 B to also serve as a part-time committee outreach worker for the Westfield Public Schools.
Second. Second. Motion made it seconded. Any further discussion, counsel? No. Anything form roll call. Madam City Clerk Morgane? Yes. Ky Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean? Yes. Bill. Randy? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Gie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane? Yes. Mellow? Yes. Thank you. Petitions for Mons and other papers. Item nine, councilor Fannie. Item nine is Vic Associates Inc. Submitting applications for a special permit site plan Approval and storm water management permit on behalf of Nicholas w Stefano.
50 Cary Road for proposed contractors Yard 81 Service star Industrial Way. A motion to refer to Zoning Planning and Development committee and to please schedule a public hearing. Second. Motion made it seconded. Any further discussion? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Now on for at your next meeting? No, in two weeks. Two weeks? Yeah. I have Two in two meetings. So the first meeting in May. Thank you. Reports of committees, finance committee. Item 10, councilor Bean. Uh, thank you Mr. President Finance committee has met and with a three zero vote for the appropriation
and the amount of two thou, or $243,012. I know it says 2 53, but it was amended from free cash to the new police station project account for the demolition in the building of six Union Street. And to remove any potential hazard material that may be uncovered during the demolition. Second Motion. Made it seconded. Councilor? Yeah, sorry about process wise. So, uh, that was the original motion we amended in committee, um, from, um, it was just a, a mistake. It was just a typo on that, on that particular cost.
So it actually went down $10,000, which is nice. Um, this particular money, um, here is looking at, um, demoing the, um, blessed sacrament, um, rectory over on North Elm Street. Uh, we're all familiar with the site. We know what the purpose is. We bought it, uh, some time ago. Um, we had seven bids for the demolition and the removal of any hazardous material, including, um, any historic, uh, pieces that might need to be pulled out of there as well. Um, there are some of those that are gonna get done. Um, associated building records was the lowest bidder, so they'll be doing it hopefully, if not, uh,
sign the contract tomorrow, maybe by Monday or Tuesday they'll get moving on it. So that's, it's an exciting piece of this puzzle. Um, there are a couple fireplaces. There's the Mayflower Mayflower plaque and there's a stained glass window within the facility itself that historic has looked at. They're gonna try to incorporate into the building. If it doesn't work within the building, um, then they'll, uh, put it on display, uh, or at least get it to the library into the appropriate places. So everybody's had their moment in the building, looked at it, took it apart, whatever they might need. And now, uh, we're at that demo stage and hopefully, um, this nothing will be uncovered.
They think they've covered most of the stuff, so they hopefully have enough money even on the hazardous side, but it's just an old building. We just don't know exactly in the end when it'll be Councilor Sullivan Adams and then Matthews came. Yeah, just a couple of things. Uh, one was on the items that were gonna be retained, which, uh, councilor Bean already, um, listed. Um, if one of the issues that I raised was if they're not gonna be incorporated into the building itself, is there an opportunity, um, to bid 'em out and perhaps sell them to defray some of the costs of this project?
So they were gonna take a look at that. They hadn't done that, um, yet. I mean, some of it is gonna be built into the building, uh, which is great. Um, but the other thing on that is to make sure that they have it secured. The city has a somewhat clouded history on taking, uh, historical items and storing them. So apparently they're gonna be doing this on site. The police obviously are aware of it. Um, purchasing is aware of it. So I will say it has pretty good security. But it did raise that as an issue that, uh, things in the past, certainly stained glass windows and other items have gone missing.
So, um, so they will do a better job on that. I did want to give a shout out to Tammy Ts I think she's done a good job on this. There were, as counselor mentioned, seven bids. So it was a competitive, um, bidding operation, which is the reason why we only needed the 2 43. Um, some, there is still some, um, uh, money in there in case the, uh, environmental is more than they expect. There's still a tank that they have not exactly located. They believe that there's still an underground tank, although it may have actually been removed when we took the church down. Um, and just don't have a record of that.
So that's part of that. So there is still some contingency contingency in there, but if they don't need it, those monies would come back into the general fund. Councilor Adams, I, Mr. President, uh, just, just a quick update this. First of all, thanks to the finance committee and thanks. We appreciate the vote on this to kind of keep this process moving along. I've probably been to seven or eight police departments with the chief and, uh, the captain. I know everything there is pretty much to know about a building, a police department, how to build it and what they're doing and what not to do. I will say I'm very impressed that the police department is cutting this as much as they can.
They are well aware of our budget, they're well aware of the taxes and they're well aware that they want this building very badly. But they're have given up a lot of things to try to get the number down. Um, the number that we're probably gonna have in front of us, everybody's probably gonna think it's high and it probably is, but three or four years ago, if we built, we probably could have saved millions, but that's not what things are today. Um, so I appreciate everybody's vote. I believe we're very close to coming up with a number. So before we go on our summer break, we may be able
to vote on this now, the bond and move forward and get this project going if everything goes well. Councilor Matthews Kane, then Ally. Thank you, Mr. President. I just would like to echo, um, some of Councillor Sullivan's comments about how hard city halls specifically Tammy Teff worked on this. The historic commission reached out to me. They were very concerned about some of the artifacts inside. In particular, they've told me one of the fireplaces, the marble was actually quarried in Westfield. So it's very specific and they would really like to see it stay in the city.
Um, you know, what ends up happening with them will be seen. But that Tammy t took the time to ensure that we were gonna do our best to preserve them. Um, I'm really grateful for that. Council Ley, Thank you, Ms. President. And I would just like to thank our police officers, um, for their reference in the building that they're in, um, because you'll see them down at Home Depot, uh, uh, working on things, using their own money, their own efforts to do stuff in the building that they've been, um, in for some time. So that, that, uh, these guys have waited a long time. So hopefully we can do something that, uh, is, is, uh, safe
and then more efficient. So I, I know that they're trying to do a good job with this because they, what they've done with what they've had. Anything further? Roll call Madam City Court. Morgane? Yes. Oniskey? Yes. I, yes. Yes. Adams Yes. Allie? Yes. Beam? Yes. Rey? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Gie Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane? Yes. Meow. Yes. Item 11. Councilor Bean. Uh, thank you, Mr. President. One second. Uh, finance committee has met and with a three zero, uh, vote as approval for a transfer of $1,159 from the Department
of Public Works Highway Division. Purchased a service account to the highway division, purchase a service account to a prior year bill owed to the Hamden County Sheriff's Department. So, move, second. Motion. Made it seconded. Further discussion Council? Yeah, there's this, obviously you've guys seen the agenda and we have a series of, I think 12, um, past due bills here. Um, majority of them are really under the APIC of timing when we decided to close, um, you know, the, the pos and the pace when, when we're spending money in the course of a year.
So that, you know, there's been a big learning curve. I think most of us, uh, at least on the, on the, on the finance committee, have learned a lot. I think the department has learned a lot. There was some transition in, um, the, um, budget oversight and, uh, with help from purchasing and the auditor, I think we're in a really, really good spot. So that's, that's, you know, because of process and because of not opening some pos and so forth, this is ex exactly why some of this has happened. So I, I don't want, it's not exactly for every one of these, but at least in my opinion, this is kind
of where we're at with most of these. So, councilor Sullivan and then Figy. Yeah, and there are a few, and I've got five of them later that all have very different reasons as to why, um, they weren't paid. Um, but I had gone, um, on the record that I wasn't gonna approve any of these prior year bills unless the auditor had signed off that there was monies in these accounts to pay these bills. Um, it's one of the very few checks and balances I think we can invoke as a council to make sure, at least when it's coming in here, there's the money to pay the bill. Um, she has signed off on every single one of these. Um, so I will support all of them here tonight.
Um, but I think, uh, what really came out in the report, uh, that was authored by the committee, but in reality by the chair, um, that, that showed, there's, you know, communications needs to be a lot better. There needs to be oversight. That has to be significantly better, I think, where some of these bills come in and there's one later on that went to a foreman that just can't happen. Um, there's another one where it was an emergency. I think everybody acted honorably and in the best interest of the city, but they never opened up a po. So the auditor froze it and held it as she should
because there was not an open PO in an emergency. They can get a PO literally with a phone call to Tammy Tess, who can open it up, um, within minutes. So there's a lot of procedural things here that just absolutely need to be tightened up. We've had two meetings now, probably three hours in total length, um, with the department. Um, you can rest assured we have expressed our displeasure, um, at those meetings. Um, but as we move through with these tonight, I'm not saying everybody needs to vote. Yes, I understand some people are still gonna, um, vote no and that's fine. That's absolutely, uh, the prerogative there.
Um, but I think every single one of these has the money to be able to pay these bills and they are owed. There's never been a question that the service or the product hasn't been received. Um, so I think it's our obligation to pay them. Um, but just as a general point of view, I think the committee has enforced what checks and balances we can as a council, um, through the auditor's office, making her sign off and verify the fact that the monies are there to pay the bills, which was part of the problem, why they got into the mess in the first place. Councilor Figy and then Miller, and then Morgan Elli. Thank you Mr. President. If you attended one finance committee meeting of the year,
this is the one who have attended. If you missed it, you missed a lot of good back and forth. A lot of inquiry from the committee to the department head as to the justification, the reasons for these. We also had a great discussion on new procedures that are being implemented as Councilor Sullivan across the way has referred to. So this, this, uh, list, uh, prior year bills before. You shouldn't make anyone happy. However, some of these bills, all these bills need to be paid.
So I'm going to ask for the support of these even though it doesn't set well with all of us. However, a lot of, I think a lot of good progress is being made because of the work of this grant. Thank you. Councilor Melo and then Morgan Alley. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I, if you don't mind, I'm gonna give you all my questions on the next right at once. Okay. Um, and I thank the committee and the department for doing their work. Uh, I appreciate that. We know that the money, you know, is owed, that we know that it hasn't been paid, uh, and that there is money in the coffers.
Thank you for your due diligence on that. I would like to know what the sum total of the problem is. I would like to know what this fiscal year is out and what whole, how big is the whole, the sum total of the debacle. I would like a grand total at some point, if not tonight. Please. I would also like to know, spelled out for me, what changes are made. It. Can we institute some kind of rule where if you don't give us the bill by June 1st you're not getting paid? Is there some kind of something we can do to help change it?
What specific changes are instituted and how do they need to be, uh, codified? How do they need to be like, put in place permanently so that this never happens again? And what happens next year? Those are my three questions for all the next ones. Thank you. I was, I was at that meeting, but Council Bean gonna address that. Yeah, I, let me, let me start by saying they, they process 5,500 bills or invoices, uh, a year. And the number we got was 17 late ones, or I should pass due bills out of the 5,500. Um, I, that's their omission. Not, not ours.
We didn't see the facts to back that up. Um, which I thought 17, I thought that was a little low. But, but as far as one, one of the, one of the things that came up, and I had called around this other, other cities that what they do is they do put in language within these invoices stating if they're not invoiced by a certain period of time, those individuals will not get paid. That's a great thing. So that's a legal question probably. I really hope they don't go to legal on this. I think it's just more process and what makes more sense. But in the end, that's, we'll, we'll see that. Oh, that's been a lot of them, these vendors
take their time, sending the bills in. That's part of the discussion. I'm not saying that we didn't find other discrepancies out there in the sense of speed and getting things paid, but that was a big one. So they're looking into that language being put in there. Now, there is some language that the purchaser is putting in there now with some of the larger projects, but our thought was why not do that for every invoice that we receive? So that should clean up some of it to put a number on what's, and then I'll look to my other members of finance. 'cause I don't, I don't know what the number is and what the whole is. We can find that out and that's, that's not a problem.
But I don't know the round number. Um, what it's, it, it, there was a learning curve. We had someone in there for a very long time and worked, they, she understood city hall a little bit and knew how to find the information. I think that was one of the glaring ones. So we're, we're, they're working that issue out, I think with, with Vicki and, and Tammy, you know, helping out with that process. So it'll only get better. Um, but you know, it's, it, it falls on the vendor too. Uh, and so it's not all, uh, the department's fault on this particular case, at least in my opinion. Okay. Did you want to address that
Just real quick? Um, just on, on the, you know, can they be, can you put in language that says you gotta invoice this in 30 days? So any, as the counselor alluded to, on the larger contracts that are bid, uh, in terms of formally bid, so the larger projects, that language is already there across the city, um, on every kind of project, not just with the DPW water sewers. They're, and Tammy has had that language for a long time standing, most of these bills are not those kinds of contracts. They're pos that are opened and it has not been in those, um, that language has not been in those pos.
So as the counselor referenced, Tammy's looking to be able to include that in both the contracts and the pos. Um, so she has issued, she's looking at that issue. She's also gone and done an educational, um, I'll call it forum, um, with not just the DPW, but others. And I know we had her put it on the council share. So it's a 40 page, some, 40 some odd page doc, which by the way is the executive summary. Um, the original document is like 229 pages. We did not put that on the council share,
but you do have the executive. So purchasing has taken, uh, working with the auditor, they have gone to all the departments to, you know, make it very clear what the rules are, um, in terms of this po. So is it gonna mean we never see a pass new bill? No. But can we at least cut it down to where, you know, it's, it's a, it's a couple and there's a specific reason as to why. Hopefully that's gonna be the case. Thank you. Councilor Elli. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, yeah, thank you to the committee for, you know, pursuing the answers and, and doing a lot of good work, um,
with, with all these items. Really appreciate it. I know the taxpayers appreciate it when they, they see some accountability from, uh, from what we do here. Um, I, my last meeting with the mayor, in the conversation I had with him, he kind of explained how some of this happens, which, which shed some light on that for me personally. Um, and one of the things I found out is that that, um, the documents that the mayor sees, um, on a, on a weekly or monthly basis are the fund balances for each department and the city revenue, the city revenue to date,
and the city expenses, uh, by department to date. Those, both of those are now in our share drive because I, that same day, I went to Madam City Clerk and talked to her about it and, and she took care of it. So thank you Madam City Clerk for, for getting that on the share drive. I see it right here. I was posted eight hours ago. So that one's gonna be the, the April one, uh, or the one for, uh, before April. Um, and the 13 items that we're gonna be, uh, that the committee is going to be bringing forward just for the people at home, all of them are under,
each one is under $6,000, but the total is $18,165 84 cents. And I am looking forward to those new procedures that you talked about. So I'll be, um, asking the mayor and perhaps the department head of DPW about that as well. All these items are from the DPW department. Thank you again for your due diligence on all That. Anything further? Oh, fi yeah. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, I have a hard copy of what went out to all city departments, all city employees. They said they sent it to us, but I don't think they did.
So they resubmitted it and I asked for a hard copy of that. Every two weeks they get a complete printout from Eunice of all the expenditures, all the revenues and everything. This is available to anybody that wants it. Um, just got thetic. Uh, I'm glad that it's now being, I always thought it was on the share drive now that it is going to be, it should be a big help for us to help. The other thing is, uh, the other night at the water commission meeting for the first time, the budget analyst presented a financial report to the water commission. So I think some of the things that we identified in that
investigation that we did through finance are being implemented. It should make some progress. It's not gonna happen overnight. It's gonna, it's going to be a process. It's gonna take some time. But I am confident that we have identified some very doable things that they are now taking action on. I'm very encouraged that the purchaser is now working with the auditor to work with the new budget analysts. I think that that will be very helpful to everybody. So just to give you an update, I think sometimes we don't see the fruits of our labors, but this time I think we're starting to see it. Thank you Councilor Adams. I just wanted
To thank Mr. President. Thank, uh, councilor Figgy for the report. I know you put a lot of time into it and did a lot of research to put that together, so I appreciate the work you put into that. Thank, thank you. Anything further? Roll call. Madam City Court. Morgan Elli. Yes. KY Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean? Yes. Dr. Randy? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Gie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane? Yes. Meow. Yes. Thank you. Item 12. Councilor B Finance committee has met with a favorable,
with an approval of a 3, 3 0 approval for the transfer of $1,357 from the Department of Public Work Highway division, uh, purchase of service account to the highway division. Purchase a service account to cover a prior year bill owed to the Northeast Overhead Services. So Second. Motion made and seconded. Further discussion, Counsel? Yeah, this was just, uh, this actually was a kind of an emergency. Uh, there was some damage done at our site at 12 Ponders Hollow Road. Uh, they had to react quick to it. So this is one of those, you know, the product.
That's why it was a prior year. Bill. Bill in the end, but it was just to, uh, fix that particular garage door. Thank You. Anything further? Seeing none. Roll call panel. Speak quick. Marcelli? Yes. Ky? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Beam? Yes. Bill. Randy? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Biggie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane? Yes. Mellow? Yes. Thank you. Item 13. Council Beam. Thank you Mr. President. Uh, finance committee has met with a three zero approval of the transfer of $1,430
and 67 cents from the Department of Public Works Water Division construction account to the water division construction account to pay prior bill owed to Gomes Construction. So second Motion Made it seconded. Further discussion, counsel, This is, uh, Gomes was doing some work on Sibley Avenue. So this was a prior bill for that. Councilor Matthews King. Thank you. Through the chair, if I may. So in water has enough though? 'cause at one point they were zero. Uh, they do. They do. Okay. They do. Yeah. Again, to, to Councilor Sullivan's point. These are all getting, uh, the auditors sign off. Fig. Yeah. One of the reasons for this prior bill was
because there was a, a change in ownership of the company. The gentleman passed away and his kids took it over. So there was confusion on their part about billing. And I don't think we're going to have this issue again with them. As you'll see, there's another one coming later. Thank you. Anything further? Roll call. Madam City. Clerk Morgan Alley? Yes. Hoki? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean? Yes. Beltran? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Biggie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane? Yes. Ow. Yes.
Thank you. Item 14. Councilor Sullivan. I think you still got 14. I think. I, I think How do you yield the floor to Councilor Bean? Yes. Uh, thank you Mr. President. The finance committee has met with a three zero vote, uh, for the transfer of 14 oh $101,491 and 67 cents from the Department of Public Works Highway Division. Purchase a service account to the Highway division. Purchase a service account to a prior to pay a prior year bill owed to Gomes Construction. Second. Well, She made it seconded. Further discussion. Uh, they, uh, had some work done on some sidewalk repairs.
So that's where this bill's Come from. Council Salt. I would just add on this one. It came up in the last one. This, there had been a death in the family and a change of ownership here. I will say. Um, Tammy Ts has directly contacted this company and said they city will not pay again if they don't invoice in the proper time period. So this is, she's actually made personal contact with Gomes. Gomes does other work in the city. So, um, again, picked up the phone and call Any further. We'll call Madam City Clerk Morgan. Yes. Oniskey? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Halle? Yes.
Bean? Yes. Dr. Randy? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Biggie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane? Yes. Meow. Yes. Thank You. Item 15. Council Sullivan. Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, finance met and recommends a transfer of $1,634, uh, from the Department of Public Works, sewer WA wastewater division. Supply account Fiscal 25 to the sewer wastewater, uh, division fiscal year 24. Supplies account to pay a prior year bill owed to Carlson's Systems. I move approval.
Second. Motion Made. And second further discussion. Counsel. This one was for two hydraulic kits that are used at the treatment plants. Both were received, however, they were on two separate invoices, um, because they were shipped from two different, um, warehouses. So the department, when they paid the invoice, thought they had paid the invoice. They in fact only paid for one of the kits, so they were late paying it. This one is on us. Anything further? Roll call. Madam City Clerk. Morgane. Yes. Oniskey? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean? Yes. Bill? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes.
Gie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane. Yes. Miller? Yes. Item 16. Councilor Sullivan. Thank Mr. President. Uh, finance Met recommends the transfer of $1,800 from the Department of Public Works Water division Fiscal 25, uh, purchase of service accounts to the water division. Fiscal 24 purchase of service accounts to pay a prior year bill owed to Scan and Associates. I move Approval. Second. Well, she made it seconded. Further Discussion. These are actually our outside auditors who really know the rules. This bill was submitted well within the period of time.
Um, however it was submitted, um, apparently to the prior budget analyst. And during the transition it was not moved over to the new budget analyst. So it was not paid in a by the city in a timely manner. So again, this one is on us. Anything further? Yes. Roll call. That Morgane? Yes. Ky? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean? Yes. Beltran? Yes. Burns? Yes. Ion? Yes. Figgy? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane. Yes. Meow. Yes. Item 17. Council Sullivan, thank Mr. President Finance
met and recommends the approval of $130 from the Department of Public Works Water division Fiscal 25 purchase of service account to the water division. Fiscal 24 purchase of service account to pay a prior year bill owed to Sara Ford. I move approval. Second. Motion made it seconded. Further Discussion. Council, this is actually for inspection of a, of a, a vehicle. Um, if past inspection is on the road, everything's fine. Um, however, the, the employee that went over to pick up the vehicle after passed inspection and was given the report, did not hand the report into the department. The department went to process the bill.
Auditor would not pay the bill without the report. They ended up, it took some time for the employee to, um, get the report back. They ended up getting Sarah just to forward another one. But again, it was outside the window. So it's the $130. Anything further? Roll call. Madam City Clerk. Elli. Yes. Oniskey? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean? Yes. Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Fige? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthew Kane. Yes. Meow. Yes. Thank you. Item item 18. Councilor Sullivan Finances met and recommends the transfer of $2,891
and 50 cents from the Department of Public Works Water Division Fiscal 25 purchase of service account to the water division fiscal 24 purchase of service account to pay a prior year bill owed to Sigma Water Safety. I move approval. Second. Motion made it seconded. Further discussion counts. Yes, these are, this is for, uh, services that were rendered for Backflow and Cross country. Our, uh, cross connection surveys. Um, there's no question that this bill was actually submitted on time, um, to be paid and the department, um, just did not process it in a proper manner.
Um, so this one again, is on us, not on the vendor. So, one quick comment because this was kind of unique. I was contacted by this company on two different occasions because they were frustrated that they couldn't get paid. So this has been going on since last April. So, you know, this one's a little bit unique and this can't happen again. I mean, you know, that's just, it's gonna be a year. So that's all I got to say. Roll call. Madam City Clerk. Morgane. Yes. Oniskey? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean? Yes. Beltran? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes.
Gie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane. Yes. Meow. Yes. Item 19. Council. So Finance met and recommends a transfer of $20 from the Department of Public Works. Sewer wastewater division. Fiscal 25 purchase service. Account to the waste, uh, to the sewer wastewater Division 24. Purchase a service account to pay a prior year bill owed to Cranes 1 0 1. I move approval. Second. Motion made and seconded. Further discussion accounts A typo by the city when they issued the check versus what the invoice was. So it's $20 City owed them 20 bucks.
Anything further? Call Morgan. Yes. Oniskey? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean? Yes. Bill. Randy? Yes. Burns? Yes. Nyia? Yes. Biggie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane? Yes. Meow. Yes. Item 20. Councillor Figgy. Thank you Mr. President. Finance Committee is met regarding the transfer of $204 80 cents for the Department of Public Works. Lease water collection division FY 25 instate travel account or waste water collection division FY 24.
And state travel account pay prior bill owed to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation pay by plate system. And on three zero above water recommend approval of the item. Second. Motion made it seconded. Further discussion, counsel? Yeah, the, uh, waste Collection division makes multiple trips daily on the Mass Pike. Uh, and they use the, the, uh, the pay by plate system because we do not own the vehicles. These are leased vehicles. Um, we did bring up in committee the idea of getting an easy pass and they said it would be difficult
'cause we leased the vehicles. However, that they would pursue that with the, uh, lease company. That way we wouldn't be missing single bills that come in on this. Anything further? Councilor Melo. Thank you Mr. President. Why does leasing have an issue with an epass? Epass is issued to the owners. Well, We don't own these trucks. They're leased. So the lease company would Have you take an EPASS and stick it to the little Velcro thing right. And take it out and move it and have more than one car tion. Absolutely. You could do that. However, that's not legal. But easy pass
To a license plate. Correct. It's not issued to a person. But you're not gonna change the plate during the period of the lease. Again, we don't, it That doesn't make sense. Mass a department. People lease cars all the time. That doesn't make sense. Well, I know I have rented cars and I've rented easy passes in other states, so I know it's possible. That's why we ask them to pursue it and to investigate the possibility of doing this. Um, we were as confused as you are. Thank you. So we tried to get some clarification. Thank you. You're Welcome. Councilor Burns. Yeah. Thank you Mr. President.
Now is this leased vehicle to city's vehicle? Does it that have blue plates on it? I don't, I've never looked at the plate on a Truck. I'm assuming. 'cause I've had a lease vehicle before and it's registered to my name, to my wife's name. Mm-hmm. And we paid the excise tax. So whoever that lease, it's just like owning the vehicle except you lease it. So I don't know why they told you I would look into that, but, well, I don't know if there's a difference between a commercial truck and a, and a personal vehicle. Um, they're going to look into it. So I don't think we need spending more time on this. We're all confused. We're all puzzled.
And again, to the bottom Chair, I, you know, all these bills. I agree. You know, these are, it is what it is. And no disrespect to my friend and colleague next to me here, right? No, no, no. Alright. I I have something to say here. You know, even if it's 55,000 bills they pay, these are before us right now. And this shouldn't be happening. This never happened before. And we need to, we need to look into this further. I mean, I understand. I'm sure there's more coming, but money's money
and we need to pay these bills right now. But I'm not happy with this. I'm, I'm voting yes on these, but I'm not happy with these bills. Thank you. Counsel. You have something? It it Ms. Thank you Mr. President. This isn't the end of this. This isn't the end of this. Well, this is all we've gotten so far. That's All we know of. Nobody knows nobody's got a crystal ball. We don't, we don't know. We're hoping this is the end of it. I would think it would be. This is the end of what we currently have now. Correct? This is the, okay. Oh, thank you. Yeah. You guys 12 call Mad city clerk. Elli. Yes. KY Yes.
Sullivan. Yes. Adams. Yes. Allie? Yes. Be, be I'm. Oh, I'm, I'm sorry. I was just getting berated. Uh, yes. Yes. Burns Yes. Fanon? Yes. Biggie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthew Skeen. Yes. Meow. Yes. Thank you. Item 21, councilor Figy. Thank you. The finance committee has met regarding the transfer of $302 and 25 cents from the department. We already did that one. It is Okay. Yeah. Transfer of $302 25 from the Department
of Public Works sew wastewater FY 25 purchase and service account to the sewer wastewater division FY 24 purchase service account to cover a prior year Bill owe the Cannon USA and on a three, well, three zero vote voted to recommend food of the item. Second. Well, she made it second. Any further Discussion? Counselor? Yes. Thank you Mr. President Cannon USA is a company that the, uh, sewer waste water division leases a copier from each month. They receive an invoice that has two parts to it. One is for usage and one is for the rental of the machine.
When they, at the end of the year, they count the number of invoices they get. If they get to 12, they think that's all they had. However, in November they set a split invoice. So there's actually 13 invoices last year instead of 12. They didn't catch that. So they paid for the rental of the machine, but not for the usage of the machine. And the $302 was for the usage of that copy. Anything further? Seeing none. Roll call Madam City Court. Morgan Alley? Yes. On Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean? Yes. Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanny? Yes. Fige?
Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane? Yes. Meow. Yes. Item 22. Councilor Figy. Thank you. The finance committee has met on this transfer of $5,671 and 20 cents from the Department of Public Works. Stormwater division F FO A 25 construction account to the stormwater division F fo A 24 construction account to pay a prior year bill owed to JL ray makers and on a three zero vote. Would recommend approval of the item. Second. Motion made it seconded. Further discussion, counsel. Thank you. This was a situation where the auditor stopped the payment from going out
because the active PO did not have sufficient funds to cover it. There was a, uh, communication breakdown and information is not shared. So the bill's not paid Efforts are now ongoing to rectify this, uh, communication between the purchaser, the auditor, and the budget analyst have begun to improve the current situation. Anything further? Councilor Elli. Thank you Mr. President. Yeah. This is, this is one of those cases with the mayor explained to me where it comes in at the end of the year. It was May 28th of last year, right before the end of the fiscal year. But I still don't understand how these bills don't get paid
before December 31st. Uh, if it's a prior year bill, the, the monies that come in between, you know, for at the beginning of the fiscal year and that first five, six months should be allocated to prior year bills. We should be seeing these in September, October. And that's it. Not 11 months later. Uh, this is the highest item, uh, over, over $5,600 that we're dealing with tonight. Thank you Councilor Figi. That, That's a good point you make. Counselor. This was a situation where the PO didn't have enough funds.
So it was flagged by the auditor. The auditor is now gonna pay a bill if they don't have enough money. And it took a while for the department. You're absolutely correct. The fiscal year ends June 30th. The auditor keeps POS open for another 30 days. So there is really no excuse for these things not happening. And we, we as a committee made that feeling clear to the department head who, uh, was the one that came into explain all of these. So, uh, we share your frustration. Roll call. Madam City Clerk Morgan Elli. Yes.
Oniskey? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean? Yes. Mr. Randy? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Gie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane. Yes. Meow. Yes. And finally, item 23. Council. Last but not least, finance committee is met on the transfer of $73 and 75 cents from the Department of Public Works Water Division FY 25. Purchase a service account to the water division FY 24. Purchase a service account to pay a prior year bill owed to Micro Back. Second Motion made it seconded.
Further discussion, counsel? Yeah. This was a three oh recommendation to approve the item. Micro Back is a company used for, uh, DEP and DPH mandated water testing. The schedule is hard, fast, and frequent and random. In 2024, there were over 164 separate invoices for testing. The office missed this one. The oversight was not received until the FA 24 books were closed. There's an ongoing search for securing a software program that would track the invoices and would better allow the division to pay their bills. Any questions on the Seeing None? Roll call maps.
Morgane? Yes. Ky? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean? Yes. Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Biggie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane? Yes. Meow. Yes. Thank you. Legislative and ordinance Committee. Item 24. Councilor Adams. I, Mr. President, uh, the Elmo is met and gives a three zero negative recommendation to allow the Board of Public works. The authority to set the rate for the refuse and recycling fee. Second. Second. Motion made it seconded. Further discussion. Councilor
Adams. Thank MS. President. Um, well in a perfect world it's not a bad idea because they're running the show. However, it we're far from a perfect world as we just went over 15 things that we had a problem with the water department. Um, and as a group we determined that there's a lot of ramifications from them setting the rate. Going back to what Councilor Melo said, um, you know, some of these ramifications of them setting the rate have a big effect on the rate payers that we may not
want to put this burden onto them. Um, we're not talking about the number right now because that's not what's in front of us. But there is something on our agenda that refers to the number that could be coming out of a o soon or it may not be coming out of ano soon, but it could. The problem, the problem with this whole thing is the mayor has to set a budget and we have definitely been behind on this fee for several years. I mean, it used to be a million dollars and it was $95 fee. This was set back in 2002.
It hasn't been touched since then. I'm not sure why it hasn't been touched since then. But we're at three to $4 million now for that refuse fee. So we feel we need to have this, in my opinion, the three of us felt that this should stay with us and we need to make the decision on what that fee needs to be. Not the, the board and the board probably is rightful to the number that they put forward. However, we need to have this because it could mean a lot to the great payers in this town. And they've been hit with a whole bunch of
increasing rates recently. So, um, we've decided to not give them the authority to keep it with us. Anything further? Okay. We'll call Madam City Clerk. Can you clarify? Can you clarify? Clarify. Thank you. Yes. A yes means what? A knowledge no should mean No. I am assuming it be Yes Would mean no Vice president, whatever you want it to be. You have A negative three. You have a three oh negative coming outta committee. Mm-hmm. So you're not a vote no. Against this ordinance. You vote yes. Kills it. Okay. So a no you vote yes.
So no is to not allow it to go to the DPW. But if it came out negative, you're voting for the negative. Let's do it that way. I'm sorry. You're voting for the negative. That's the way I play it. So yes. Is voting for the negative. So a yes is no. Yes is no. Okay. So a yes. Yes. Voting for the negative No is no council. If I may try to explain the item on the agenda is the original item that came in front of us several weeks ago. So that's what we're voting on. The recommendation is a recommendation. It could be 2 1 1 2 3 0 0 3. That's a recommendation.
That's not what's on the agenda. The recommendation. Okay. What's on the agenda is the original item. Okay. Which is To change the Ordinance. To change the ordinance. Okay. So that's, so a no is a no. Correct? No. Okay. Noah agrees with the committee. I hate when they come up. I know. Everybody good? Yep. Yes. We'll call Madam Supervisor. Thank you. Morgan Alley? No. On no. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? No. Allie? No. Bean? No. Bill. Randy? No. Burns, no Fanan? No. Ziggy? No. Harris? No. Matthews. Kane? No. Mellow? Nope.
Okay. Sheriff. Oh, I Amm. So certain. 25 Item. 25. Council burns. Thank you Mr. President. I met last evening and the night three zero vote. We voted to leave in committee. A memorandum submitted by Assistant City solicitor Eric Valdez on proposed changes to the marijuana ordinance. Second Motion made it seconded. Further discussion, counsel? Yeah, real quick. Um, this has been going on for a while. I mean, we've been many meetings with this and, uh, we're, we're down to the, uh,
suppose the 11th hour now. And, uh, so we should have something in the next meeting or two, um, Permitt on this, uh, ordinance. Thank you. This is the leaving committee. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Item 26, councilor Oniskey. Thank you, Mr. President Ano, uh, met tonight and upon a two zero vote voted, uh, positive recommendation for a petition for street acceptance of Calin Way. Second. Second Motion made it second. Councillor Ky? Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, this is going to be in two parts as we have
with the street acceptances. A resolution will be the first, um, first item that we'll vote on. And then the second item will be, uh, a layout order, which will require a second rating. So, uh, we've, we've done many street acceptances here this year. Uh, you know, I'd like to thank, uh, Madam City Clerk for keeping track of 'em because there were so many that go to several departments. This was approved by the planning board, uh, city engineer and, uh, uh, DPW board and also for Councilor Burns for keeping track of this.
Uh, it's very hard to get a lot of signatures. Not all the homes that are, uh, that are owned on streets are owned by a, you know, regular families. You might call it. You've got divorced people who aren't talking to each other. You got bank owned, uh, uh, houses. You got everything under the sun, so it's very difficult to get these, not On Kate. Anyway, Get these signatures. So if I may, uh, you know, councilor Burns might wanna speak to it. Yeah. Um, again, I'd like to thank Kate, um,
our city clerk and also, uh, councilor Linsky. He really was a, he's really good at these, uh, three acceptances. They're not easy. This one took a while. And, uh, also I'd like to thank, uh, Andy Hardy's, the resident of, uh, Kaitlyn Way and the rest of the residents on Kaitlyn Way, um, for the time that they, especially what Andy put in. So I, at this point, you know, thanks for thanks to everybody. It is a team effort and, uh, thanks again. Anything further? So the first we're gonna do is the resolution. Counsel? Yes. Thank you. And the resolution by title only is a resolution accepting release deeds.
Thank you. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed counsel. Thank you Mr. President. D uh, next item is the order, uh, laying out Kaitlin Way. So-called as a city way. Uh, ordinance by title only. Second. Second. Any discussion? Counsel? Uh, no. First reading by first rating? Yes. By title only, which is an order laying out Kaitlin Way. So-called as a city. La Okay. All in favor? A. Aye. Opposed? Counselor. Thank
You Mr. President. Motion to move for second reading and final passage at our next meeting. Second. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Now on for second reading, uh, license committee Item 27, councilor Matthews Kane. Thank you Mr. President. On Thursday, April 3rd, the license committee met regarding the application for a limo license for one limousine for Dr. Luxury ride LLC at 29 Dana Street as submitted by Don Chri. And upon a three to zero vote, we voted to approve and I move approval. Second. Motion made it seconded. Further discussion, counsel. Thank you Mr. President. Um, this is pretty simple.
We have a city ordinance that no person shall convey passengers for hire from place to place within the city by any carriage or other vehicle without first having obtained a license thereof from the city council. So there is a application. He submitted everything. We have a zone determination, um, that it works in that neighborhood. We received his license, his insurance. We have multiple, um, applica pieces of the application. He submitted everything the residents were contacted, they had nothing to say and we, we move approval.
Any further discussion on the license? Seeing not all in favor. A aye Opposed license is approved. Zoning planning and development committee. Item 28. Councilor fan, you can leave If you Congratulations. Thank you, Mr. President. On March 31st, 2025, the zoning planning and development committee met and at a two to one vote amended the zoning ordinances relative to the keeping of chickens and domestic animals. Second. Motion made it seconded. Further discussion, counsel? Yes. Since this is a zoning ordinance, um, motion to schedule a public hearing at the, um, next practical date
and also to refer to planning and law. Second. Motion made it seconded. Any further discussion on this item? It. So is this only To refer? Yes. Okay. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Unfinished business Item 29. Council on Ms. Guest means Thank you Mr. President. Motion for second reading and final passage of an ordinance amending Chapter 13, article five, division two, wetlands protection. Second. Motion made. And second further discussion. Council, Uh, this is the, um, wetlands ordinance
that the Conservation Commission came up with to update all of our, um, wetlands ordinances. Thank you. Any Further discussion? We'll call Madam City Court. Morgan? Yes. Ky. Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Bean. Yes. Beltran? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanny? Yes. Gie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane. Yes. Meow. Yes. Thank you. Item 30, councilor Motion for a second reading and final passage of an ordinance amending the code of ordinances. City of Westfield, appendix B. Zoning adopted September 3rd, 1987 relative
to accessory dwelling units and increasing housing capacity. Second. Motion made it second. And any further discussion, counsel? No discussion was held. Last meeting. Roll call Madam City. Clerk Morgan Alley. Yes. Ky? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. Beam? Yes. Bill. Randy? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Fige? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane. Yes. Miller? Yes. Thank you. Item 31. Council Fanon Motion For a second reading and final passage of an ordinance amending the code of ordinances, city of Westville, appendix B, zoning adapted September 3rd, 1987 relative
to housing related matters and miscellaneous updates. Second. Motion made and seconded. Further discussion. Counselor. All discussion was last meeting. Roll call Madam City Clerk Morgan. Ellie. Yes. Oniskey? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adams? Yes. Allie? Yes. B? Yes. Walter. Randy? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Gie? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane. Yes. Meow. Yes. Thank you. Motions, orders or resolutions? Item 32. Councilor Matthews Kane. Thank You Mr. President. 32 is a motion of Councilor Matthews Kane that the city Of Westfield Accept general laws Chapter 59. Section five, clause 17 F,
which authorizes an annual increase in the amount of the exemption granted to senior citizens, surviving spouses and surviving minors under general laws. Chapter 59. Section five, clause 17 D by up to a hundred percent of the percentage increase in the US Department of Labor, bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer price index for the previous year is determined by the Commissioner of Revenue. And to fix that annual increase at 2.5% or a hundred percent of the CPI, whichever is less to be effective for exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1st, 2025. Refer to l and o.
Second. Second Motion made it second. Further discussion. So my first comment is, I have three motions on the agenda tonight. And they're all because of the same thing. I've heard from many people that they're struggling, they're challenged to play their tax bills and they want a form of relief. And there are, there's an exemption that we could increase and it would be for people who are struggling and we could give them a small tax break. So, right. We've, we actually did this a couple years ago with the 41 C, which is based on income and assets.
Um, for some people who have too much income having in, they can get the 17 D and it, right now it's $175. Um, real estate tax exemption. Um, so what the motion in front of us would do, it would increase that amount and then this next motion would increase the amount of assets. So it would make more people eligible to receive this. And, um, I hope we can support it. It's a way of helping people who need some assistance. And I've sent it to l and OI mean we could send it to finance as well, but it's not a large amount of money. And before, previously we did the 41 C.
We did it through LNO. Thank you. Any further discussion before we vote? Descend it to El NO. See? None. All in favor? A a. Aye. Opposed? Okay. Item 33. Council Athens Camp. Thank you Ms. You, Mr. President. A motion of Councilor Matthews came to the city of Westfield. Accept general laws Chapter 59, section five, clause 17 E, which authorizes an annual increase in the asset whole estate limit for exemptions granted to senior citizens, surviving spouses and surviving minors under general laws. Chapter 59. Section five, clause 17 D
by the percentage increase in the US Department of Labor, bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for the previous year. As determined by the cons, commissioner of revenue to be effective for exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1st, 2025. I refer to l and l. Second Motion made it second and further discussion. Counselor, I I basically described this already. This is the second part so that the assets can go up as well as the amount of the exemption. Councilor Miller, Thank you Mr. President. I just wanna thank the counselor across the way for finding these options for our most vulnerable residents. I really appreciate you looking for these. Thank you.
Anything further? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Item 34, Councillor Matthews. Kane. Thank you. This is a motion of Councillor Matthews Kane that the finance committee investigate submitting a home rule petition to establish a means tested senior citizen property tax tax exemption. Refer to finance second. Motion. Made it seconded. Further discussion, counsel. So this is a bit of a heavier lift. Um, this is a means tested real estate property tax exemption. It's means tested. So you'd have to fit a certain criteria. Um, age, property ownership, income
and length of residence at in the town or the city. Um, a lot, a lot more towns are doing this. 'cause if earlier, if you were gonna have this, you'd have to have an elaborate application. It would take a lot of manpower to go through the application and then someone came up with a clever idea that you link it to the senior citizen. Um, uh, the circuit breaker on the Massachusetts State income tax. So if you qualify that for that, then you qualify for this. So it takes away a lot of the paperwork. And so a lot of towns and cities are now, um, establishing this.
Um, we would have to do it as a home rule petition, which we know takes a while. It's how we did, um, we changed the charter. Um, I do know that the MMA and the Assessor's Association are trying to get this through, but I think we shouldn't wait. Like the Census Group has been trying to get this through for 13 years. So I think we should do the home rule petition, see if we can get it. And it could be a means of giving a substantial tax break to needy senior citizens. Um, you know, I'm, I don't even know if I will vote for it when I see the numbers. I, but finance would have to study this.
I didn't wanna push the assessor too hard, too hard and make her do all the work until council bought in on at least investigating it. But I think it might be a really great way, um, to give people who have been in our community a long time and needed a tax break. Councilor Figi. Thank you Mr. President. Motion to amend to refer to the Long Range Financial Overview Committee. As the counselor has referred, this is a heavy lift. We're going into budget season finance will not have the time to give this a due justice, so I think that committee would be more appropriate. Second. Second. Motion made it seconded to amend.
Councilor Sullivan. Who, who's on that committee? Uh, councilor Matthews Kane is the chair. Perfect. Uh, councilor Bean and Councilor Beltran is The committee. Second that. Yep. Good. Any further in favor? I'm good with that. All in favor? The amendment. Nice. Shuffle. A. Okay, now back to the, so going out to long range Finance and not just finance. Right? You're not thinking. Okay. So now in the hands of long range finance, any announcements? Yes. That's just not My n Council. Elli, thank You Mr. President. Uh, just want to appreciate our veterans out there.
And, um, uh, for anybody that would like to, uh, join me in that, uh, this Saturday at one o'clock at, uh, park Memorial Park, uh, there's a veteran Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day. And then, uh, I also mentioned the other two events this month. Patriots Day Ceremony Monday, April 21st at 11:00 AM at the park. And then the 104th Infantry Regiment memorial up on Southampton Road on the north side, uh, is, uh, Saturday April 26th at 10:00 AM at after Month Park.
But in two days, uh, we can see you at the, uh, Vietnam Veterans Recognition. Thank you Council. I like to suggest that they, uh, concert might across the way. Check the weather on Saturday. 'cause it's not looking good Inside. Move. Okay. Anything else? Councillor Harris. Motion to adjourn. Second. Second. Motion made it second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Goodnight everybody. Thank you.