Everett City Council
Monday August 14, 2023
Clickable Transcript Printable Transcript Agenda
The order of items in transcripts appear in the chronological order in which they were taken up. Some Agenda items may have been skipped.
Agenda Item 1
During a public hearing, Sergio Cornelio, the Everett City Clerk, introduced a petition from National Grid, represented by Zachary Trani, seeking permission to install underground conduit on Devin Street for electric vehicle charging in a public parking lot. Trani confirmed the charging stations are a city request, located near the Devon School parking lot. Council members inquired about the project's details, including its public utility, location, Trani’s role, and the project timeline. Despite Trani's explanation that his job involves coordination with operation crews and the project’s limited scope and duration, Councilor John Hanlon expressed strong opposition due to National Grid’s incomplete previous project on Broadway, resulting in poor street conditions. Hanlon emphasized the importance of responsible project completion and transparency about timelines, stating he would vote against the petition and urged his colleagues to demand higher accountability from contractors in future projects. Trani attempted to differentiate between the electric and gas divisions of National Grid and offered to facilitate better communication, but Hanlon’s concerns remained focused on the quality and completion of street works.
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Public Participation
Wendy Post, a concerned citizen, recounted her traumatic experience of being assaulted by an Everett firefighter who is a sex offender and criticized the city for not implementing policies to prevent sex offenders from holding municipal jobs that involve entering people's homes. She proposed annual CORI checks for such employees. Mary Forton shared her disbelief over the city's lack of protective measures and advocated for yearly CORI checks to ensure public safety. Paula Steritti highlighted the need for a developmental moratorium in Everett due to concerns about infrastructure’s inability to support rapid growth and criticized the city for prioritizing developments over the welfare of its residents. Steve Ayinako questioned the allocation of funds toward legal expenses and sought transparency regarding the city’s finance management. Margaret Cornelio expressed concern over school overcrowding and the lack of planning to address this issue. Sandy Juliana proposed yearly performance reviews for council members to ensure accountability. Joetta Yuckins concluded by supporting Wendy Post’s call for CORI testing for city employees and criticized the city’s handling of development approvals and neighborhood preservation, echoing concerns about the city's management and policy implementation regarding employee background checks, development, and infrastructure.
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Item 24
The discussed issue revolves around the inadequate electrical infrastructure at 381 Ferry Street Glendale Towers, affecting the building's ability to support air conditioning units, particularly problematic during the summer months. The concern, highlighted by Councilor Wayne Matewsky and echoed by residents, points towards National Grid's responsibility in resolving the distressing living conditions exacerbated by extreme heat. Despite the issue persisting for years, newly involved National Grid representative Zachary Trani was informed of the situation, including burnt-out conductors limiting electrical loading capacity. The council expressed frustration over the prolonged negligence and urged expedited action, conveying the urgency of the matter alongside broader system management and communication concerns between the gas and electric sectors of the utility company. Additional discussions briefly encompassed the approval of a new mechanical repair license application by Bubbaka Korvier for H&B Auto Repair, aiming to reduce the wait time caused by the council's summer break.
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Item 20
The council discussed the current progress of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation process, with Council Stephanie Martins asking for an update from the administration. A communication from the Mayor's chief of staff, Erin Deveney, detailed the community engagement efforts led by the ARPA advisory panel, including the distribution of surveys in multiple languages and direct engagement at community events. The outreach succeeded in collecting 960 responses, surpassing those of other communities. The Mayor's office thanked the advisory panel and mentioned an upcoming meeting to discuss expenditure recommendations for the ARPA funds, with further deliberation expected in September. Additionally, Smith addressed a separate issue regarding the query check, assuring the public that the council is seeking a response from the administration.
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Items 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 13, 15
In a public hearing, Councilor Michael Machese, as President, proposed several orders for grant acceptances and expenditures aimed at community development and safety enhancements in Everett. These included a substantial grant for employing teens and young adults, funds for an explosive ordinance canine vehicle, and grants for the restoration of the Charlestown Pumping Station seawall and extension of the Mystic River Harbor Walk. Additionally, grants were discussed for tree planting initiatives and the construction of a bike path, walking path, and the restoration of green space, as well as training for the Everett Fire Department. Erin Deveney, the Mayor's Chief of Staff, addressed questions about the grants, clarifying that they were fully funded, primarily through the Massachusetts Gaming Commission Community Mitigation Fund, and not requiring matching funds. The council also requested updates on the projects' statuses and specifics about tree planting efforts, including which areas were targeted for reducing heat impacts. The acceptance of these grants signifies efforts to enhance environmental resilience, recreational infrastructure, and emergency preparedness in Everett.
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Item 6
Item number 6 involves a request from Councilor Michael Marchese, serving as President, for approval to accept and utilize donations amounting to $1500. These donations were gathered from city of Everett employees in June 2023 and are intended to support the fire victims fund.
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Item 19
The City Council of Everett discussed the proposal to amend the city's legislative code to include yearly performance reviews for city council employees. Councilors Smith, Martins, and Costa stressed the need for accountability, transparency, and the benefits of documenting employee performance for improvement and record-keeping. Despite concerns about who would conduct these reviews and whether such a process is necessary for a small number of employees, the proposal aims to provide a structured approach to assessing and enhancing the work of staff appointed by the council. This initiative mirrors practices in the corporate world and is seen as a way to maintain high standards and transparency for the benefit of the public and the council's own governance.
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Item 7
In a public discussion, Cornelio introduced an agenda item for the appointment of Janice Constantine to the Library Board of Trustees for a three-year term, highlighting her detailed resume. Smith expressed strong support for Constantine’s appointment, sharing personal accolades about her over 35 years of acquaintance and her 31-year tenure in education, particularly with Everett public schools and the Everett Adult Learning Center. Smith also mentioned efforts to understand the board's responsibilities by consulting with the library director and chief of staff, confidently stating that Constantine would be a valuable addition to the board and urging a favorable vote on her appointment.
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Item 8
The public hearing discusses an order requesting approval for an intermunicipal agreement between Everett and Chelsea to address island and flood resilience projects, aimed at mitigating future flood risks for both cities. Concerns were raised about whether the project benefits solely a small group of commercial entities, but the project is clarified to be aimed at protecting wider community interests, including mitigating future flood risks for vast areas affecting thousands of residents and jobs. The agreement entails collaborative efforts to seek federal and state funding, without intending to heavily rely on municipal funds, and outlines roles for both cities in managing and executing the project, including hiring a project manager to ensure obligations are met. The discussion also covers the technical aspects and intentions behind the project, including infrastructural developments like seawall construction, with a focus on mitigating flood risks through planned collaborative efforts and funding strategies, while also addressing related inquiries from council members about project management, funding, and specific project impacts.
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Item 11
Item number 11 involves a proposal by Councilor Michael Marchese, in his capacity as President, requesting the authorization to accept and spend a grant of up to $24,200. This funding, sourced from the city of Boston Mayor's Office of Emergency Management (OEM), is earmarked for the purpose of reimbursing the costs associated with the purchase of replacement SIM's security cameras.
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Item 12
Item number 12 pertains to the request made by Councilor Michael Marchese for the confirmation of Charles Dupery and Clarey Nee as appointees to the Council on Aging. Their proposed term would last three years, concluding on September 1st, 2026.
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Item 14
The section pertains to an order proposed by Councilor Michael Marchese, serving as President, which seeks authorization for the acceptance and expenditure of a donation valued at $50.30 to the Everett fire department's safe program.
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Item 17
Councilor Darren Costa proposed a resolution to initiate a planning effort for Ward 3 zoning, specifically targeting the Glendale and Werner areas for development. Costa stressed the importance of having a master plan to guide development and prevent haphazard construction that doesn't match the city's needs, expressing frustration over the lack of a comprehensive plan for the city beyond the Everett square commercial triangle. He highlighted the need for modern infrastructure and businesses in Ward 3 and the necessity to proactively shape the city's growth rather than letting developers dictate it. Costa's motion called for the planning department and planning board to develop a master plan for these areas, aiming to be ahead of developers in planning the city's future structure.
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Item 18
Councilor Darren Costa proposed an ordinance aiming to amend the zoning limitations within the business district to address public concerns regarding overdevelopment, congestion, pollution, traffic, and the lack of parking. Highlighting the negative impacts of current zoning practices, such as the heat island effect exacerbated by insufficient greenery and open spaces, Costa advocated for reducing the maximum build height from four floors to three and lowering the permissible floor height across major areas of the district. This measure, derived from Costa’s observations at planning board meetings, seeks to curb unchecked developer-driven growth, enhance the city's environmental health, and improve residents' quality of life by ensuring future development aligns more closely with the community's vision for Everett.
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Item 21
Councilor Darren Costa proposed a resolution requesting the administration to consider hosting Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board meetings in the City Council chambers to enable live broadcasting and video archiving, aiming to enhance transparency. This proposal intended for in-chamber meetings only, without adding online participant features. The suggestion faced hurdles regarding the exclusive use of the council chamber, clarified by Councilor Hanlon that only the city council could authorize such use. Despite concerns from Councilor Matewsky about changing the longstanding use of the chamber and his opposition, Costa amended the motion to propose using the Carverian room instead, which could be equipped for broadcasting and archiving, to address the pushback and logistical issues raised.
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Item 22
In this section, Council Michael Marchese, serving as President, proposed an order to initiate the authorization process for the 2023 Municipal Preliminary Election, which was being discussed as item number 22. Councilor Matewsky inquired about the outcome of a drawing related to this process, to which Marchese responded by stating that they secured the third position in the draw.
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Item 23
The summary revolves around Item 23, introduced by Council President Michael Marchese, which seeks approval for designating polling places for the 2023 Municipal Preliminary Election, as detailed in the attached list. Notably, this year's arrangement includes the council chamber as a new addition, serving as the 20th location specifically for central tabulation, where all early and absentee ballots will be processed.
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Item 25
A resolution presented by Councilor Wayne Matewsky aims to address noise ordinance violations in residential areas by ensuring property owners are notified after the police have been called to a property at least two times. The goal is to hold property owners accountable for recurring disturbances, including excessive noise and disruptive activities, in hopes of preventing future violations. Matewsky highlighted recent complaints about noisy neighbors and disruptive behavior lasting into the early morning hours, mentioning specific instances on Vine Street and Mansfield Street. He announced plans to collaborate with Mr. Flood, a legislative expert, and the code enforcement department to develop an ordinance to address and prevent such issues.
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Item 26
In a city council meeting, Councilor Darren Costa introduced a resolution requesting the Mayor to provide an update on the REIGENT negotiation related to the original host community agreement with Encore Boston Harbor, referencing a letter from the Mass Gaming Commission about the East of Broadway Development's compliance with regulation standards necessitating renegotiation. Costa highlighted Encore's significant expansion and acquisitions, including part of a power plant and properties such as Mic's Roast Beef, arguing these actions warrant revisiting the host agreement due to the changed landscape. He noted Encore's sale and leaseback of their building for substantial amounts and favorable tax arrangements, emphasizing the need for the administration's update and consideration of potential council input on the matter.
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Item 27
Councilor Darren Costa presented a resolution requesting the organization of more specific town hall meetings to discuss the community's concerns regarding the ongoing state project at Ferry and Elm streets. Costa acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the construction and emphasized the importance of incorporating feedback from local residents who are directly affected. Requesting a postponement of the resolution until the next meeting, Costa mentioned he was awaiting a list of resident complaints and their resolutions from the Mayor's office. He suggested that this list might address the issues sufficiently but remained open to the idea of a public forum to ensure all community concerns regarding the construction are thoroughly understood and considered.
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Maintenance Request
Cornelio introduced the final agenda item regarding maintenance requests, specifically a proposal by Councilor Wayne Matewsky for the city service department to trim a tree in front of 87 Cottage Street as requested by the homeowner. Matewsky thanked the President, confirming the tree had already been trimmed that day, and referred the matter back to the sponsor for further action.
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