Everett City Council
Tuesday October 10, 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.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
In a recent public hearing, residents raised various concerns and suggestions to the city council members. Jessica Galboots, an educator, and union leader, commended Councilor Martin's initiative on a municipal scholarship fund emphasizing its importance for college and career readiness amid an uncertain economic landscape. She also called for the resignation of Councilor Jimmy Trelei due to a court-admitted sexual harassment complaint. Wendy Poste, inspired by a UK podcast, highlighted the systemic issue of silence around sexual abuse allegations, urging for accountability not just from abusers but from those who remain silent as well. Steve Iannaco criticized the allocation of funds for new ISD vehicles and waterfront improvements, suggesting the city is out of touch with residents' needs. Sandy Juliano questioned the expenditure and accountability of $1,000,000 on legal fees for a DOJ investigation. Paula Sterite discussed the miscommunication and confusion about funding for a new high school versus renovating Pope John, stressing the importance of factual information over propaganda. Bonnie Lemagne relayed a personal plea for more homeless shelters and low-income housing to support vulnerable residents like her family. Her husband, James Lemagne, lamented the city’s prioritization of infrastructure over pedestrian safety, sharing a personal near-miss incident to underline his point. Collectively, these testimonies showcase community members' desire for financial transparency, educational support, accountability in public officials, infrastructural improvements with careful consideration of actual needs, and a stronger social safety net.
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Item 10
The Everett City Council discussed a petition from National Grid to install an underground conduit for EV charging stations on Devin Street. Katherine Jenkins-Sullivan, representing the city, explained that the project's planning was ahead of securing funding from the Massachusetts Electrical Vehicle Incentives Program (Mass EVIP) and National Grid's EV incentives program. The proposed project aims to establish two Level 2 charging stations, creating four EV charging spots and an additional spot for ADA compliance, thus impacting five existing parking spaces. There was some confusion regarding the project’s status and cleanup concerns. Jenkins-Sullivan mentioned that the city would own the charging stations, set the usage fees, and noted that initial installations and purchases might be fully funded through grants. The City Council expressed concerns about future costs, maintenance, insurance, and fee setting for the stations. Some council members suggested postponing the project until funding was confirmed, to avoid unnecessary expenditure or infrastructure changes.
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Items 1, 4, 5, 6
Councilor Michael Marchese, serving as President, proposed four orders related to the acceptance and allocation of grants targeting various enhancements within the community. The proposals include a grant of $206,970 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for 911 services enhancement, a $9,000 grant from the Department of Environmental Protection for recycling initiatives, a $36,773.87 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance for body armor for the Everett Police Department, and finally, two grants totaling $122,800 from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission aimed at covering costs associated with the construction and operation of a gaming establishment, including overtime and security measures.
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Items 2, 3
Cornelio highlights two orders presented by Councilor Michael Marchese. The first pertains to seeking approval for accepting donations of promotional services for the Fiesta Del Rio event, with a donation of $10,000 from Roomba 977 and $5,000 from El Mundo. The second order is a request for approval to accept and expend a total of $4,625 in donations from approximately 15 vendors for the 2023 Fiesta Del Rio event.
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Item 7
The discussion focused on an ordinance proposed by Councilor Michael Marchese, acting as President, aimed at amending Section 33, referred to as the commercial triangle, in the city of Everett's zoning ordinance. The ordinance is set to be forwarded directly to the planning board for further consideration.
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Item 8
The public hearing discussed the allocation of $1,663,800 from the capital improvement stabilization account for funding various capital projects, notably including police vehicles, fire department gear, school vehicles, building painting, and significant improvements to the old high school's roof. Councilor Michael Marchese inquired about the allocation for the high school roof, learning from Eric Demas, City of Everett, that the budget was only for hiring a project manager and an architect to prepare for a full roof replacement, which is estimated to cost between $5 and $7 million. Demas clarified that the project involves replacing the entire roof of the old high school, not just parts of it, addressing the building's longstanding issue with leaks. Stephanie Smith from the Everett City Council mentioned that an extensive discussion on this topic took place in the ways and means meeting, recommending the public to review that session for detailed information on the discussions with department heads about these projects.
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Item 9
In a public hearing, Councilor Michael Marchese, as President, introduced an order to appropriate $9,834,000 for 13 capital improvement projects. Council members expressed their support for the initiative but sought detailed cost breakdowns for these projects, similar to previous expenditures. Questions were raised about the inclusion of the Complete Streets program, which focuses on bike and bus lanes, crosswalks, and signage, and whether it involved specific street renovations like those on Nicholas Street. Concerns were also voiced over the delayed repavement and sidewalk repairs on Paris Street and the absence of speed control devices in the new budget, which are prevalent in neighboring communities. A request was made for an updated list of streets slated for repair and for the possibility of including speed control devices under the Complete Streets program funding. The meeting concluded with a call for favorable action on the order and a request for the promised list of street repairs.
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Item 11
In a public hearing regarding the status of the Davis Group and the Exxon Mobil site in South Everett, Councilor Michael Marchese inquired about any updates or documentation. Cornelio confirmed there were no written communications. Erin Deveney from the Mayor’s Office clarified that the city was not directly involved in the negotiations and had no detailed updates on the sale or transfer of the parcel. It was mentioned that while the Davis Companies remained a potential party for taking over the site, no sale or transfer had occurred. Deveney addressed previous misconceptions that the city’s demands on housing development might have deterred the sale, emphasizing that the city’s interest lies in the cleanup and development of the land for economic growth without placing unnecessary demands on the type of development. Marchese questioned if the city’s actions might have inadvertently stalled the sale or negotiations, to which Deveney responded there was no clear information on what caused the negotiation to pause, only that the Davis Companies remained interested but no progress had been made towards completion.
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Item 12
The council discussed a resolution introduced by Councilor Jimmy Tri Le concerning the modification of street lighting on Lynn Street near a park, Grover, Ernest’s, and nearby residences, with an initial proposal to replace several streetlights. However, an amendment was suggested by Smith to "add" rather than "replace" streetlights. Marchese motioned to amend the resolution accordingly. Additionally, Smith read a statement from the councilor of ward 4, expressing gratitude towards the DPW and its head, Chad Lubango, for their responsiveness and recent safety improvements in Ward 4, particularly highlighting the successful implementation of bright blinking lights around a stop sign on Preston Street. The statement emphasized safety concerns due to inadequate lighting on Lynn Street near the Arthur Nelson Playlot and a cemetery, pointing out issues such as high-speed vehicles at night and sightings of coyotes. The councilor advocated for the installation of post lights along both sides of Lynn Street, near Fuller Grover and Estes and as close to the cemetery as possible, suggesting the matter be referred to the DPW for action.
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Item 14
The discussion revolves around a resolution to verify if handicap parking accommodations in front of properties are still needed. Councilor Wayne Matewsky initiated the resolution due to concerns that some residents who had previously been granted these spots have either moved away or passed on, leaving the spaces unused but unavailable to others. He proposed that the Disability and Traffic Commissions send letters to those who had been approved for these spots to confirm their current need. The idea aims to update the city's records and potentially free up parking spaces no longer required for handicap use. Councilor Lattanzi mentioned that the Traffic Commission has begun addressing this issue by keeping better records and planning to contact handicap spot recipients every two years to verify their continued need. The proposal also suggests involving the Mayor's office in conducting an audit of all existing handicap parking spots to ensure they are still justified, highlighting parking as a significant issue within the city.
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Item 15
In a council meeting, Councilor Stephanie Smith proposed a resolution calling for additional training for election clerks after receiving complaints about the voter check-in process. A voter had been mistakenly marked as already having voted due to a mix-up with her son, whose name shared the same first three and last three letters. This error highlighted the potential for confusion and disenfranchisement under the current verification system, which emphasizes the first three and last three letters of names. Smith emphasized the need for clerks to double-check voters' names and addresses in such cases and recommended that troubled voters ask for a warden's assistance. Additionally, the meeting addressed improvements to the absentee ballot system, with Councilor Matewsky noting that pre-stamped envelopes had been provided by the state, facilitating easier return of absentee ballots without postage cost to the voter.
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Item 16
Councilor Stephanie Martins proposed a resolution to revive the municipal scholarship fund program, initially established in 1976, which involves appointing a nine-member board of trustees including the city auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of schools, among others from the community, to oversee the fund. The scholarships aim to support local students with amounts ranging from $500 to $1000, with a total fund allocation of $3000. Martins inquired about the current status of donations collected through tax bills for this purpose and requested the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to provide details on the fund's balance and confirm whether the fund is active and properly managed. The discussion highlighted the importance of investing in the city's human capital and the potential reactivation of the scholarship program to benefit local students.
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