Everett City Council
Monday November 13, 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.
Item 4.
The public hearing discussed a petition by Councilor Michael Marchese, representing National Grid's request to relocate a utility pole near 24 Silver Road to the opposite side of a resident's driveway, improving access. Jose Luis Isertia from National Grid explained that the project is customer-driven, with all costs being reimbursed by the customer. Stephanie Martins from the Everett City Council supported the move, emphasizing the resident's struggle with the current pole placement obstructing driveway access and advocating for additional modifications to ensure full access. Richard Dell Isola inquired about the financial and logistical aspects of the pole removal and the subsequent infrastructure repairs, highlighting coordination between National Grid, the customer, and possibly the city for completing the curb and access restoration once the pole is relocated.
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Item 5.
During this portion of the public hearing, Council Mike Marches presented a petition from National Grid seeking permission to install conduits on the sidewalk at 339 Main Street to provide electric service at 345 Main Street. Jose Luis Isertia from National Grid explained the customer-driven project involves running a duct bank from an existing pole to a manhole along Locust Street, mainly impacting the sidewalk near Dunkin' Donuts, to enhance power supply to a new dentist's office, Cavinos. Concerns were raised by Everett City Council members about the length of the affected area, neighbor notifications, and potential disruptions to a nearby funeral parlor, with Luis committing to address these concerns.
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Item 6.
Item number six on the agenda involves a petition from National Grid seeking permission to install a line of underground electric conduits on Devens Street for the purpose of setting up EV charging stations. Cornelio explained that the project aims to establish a meter pedestal in a parking lot off Devens Street, requiring National Grid to lay conduit and underground power from a nearby pole to the pedestal. Resident Samantha Lambert voiced strong support for the initiative, urging the city to favorably consider this and future projects that equip the city for the transition to electric vehicles by 2035. Lambert emphasized the importance of preparing the city's infrastructure for electric vehicles and commended the efforts of the sustainability office in this direction.
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Item 7.
During a public hearing, National Grid, represented by Diana Cutting, requested permission to install approximately 400 feet of eight-inch plastic gas main on Boston Street, a customer-driven project aimed at extending the gas main to a new location. The project, scheduled to start in the spring, doesn't require MWI or DCR permits, only a municipal permit for commencement. During the discussion, Councilor Hanlon raised concerns about a previous gas main project on Broadway, criticizing the work's quality and its incomplete state, affecting the road condition adversely. He demanded accountability and immediate remediation before approving the new project. National Grid acknowledged the issue, with Cutting agreeing to investigate and resolve the Broadway project's concerns. The dialogue also touched on procedural matters regarding petition approvals and the disturbance the current project might cause to Boston Street, including traffic management plans involving police details or possible detours.
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Public Participation
During the public hearing, several residents voiced concerns and critiques about the city’s fiscal responsibilities, project decisions, and transparency. Sandy Juliano questioned the additional funding request for the previously budgeted Webster School roof improvement and opposed the mayor's plans for a new high school, advocating for making Pope John a middle school instead. Peggy Serino sought clarity on the allocation of ARPA funds across various community support initiatives, suggesting the council demand specific spending details before proceeding with further decisions. Steve Iannaco expressed skepticism about the planned shared path project's funding and maintenance, urging for prioritization of residents' needs. Paula Sterite criticized the opaque distribution and decision-making process regarding ARPA funds, particularly concerning community impact and representation, calling for a reassessment of fund allocation to ensure it addresses pandemic recovery for the most affected demographics. Thalia Patino and several students petitioned for the resignation of Anthony DePiro over discriminatory actions, while Maria Bussell rebuked derogatory comments made by a school committee member, advocating for accountability and reflection within the council. Bonnie LeMagne lamented the unmet promises for support to low-income residents and the homeless, stressing the disconnect between the city's development plans and the needs of its vulnerable populations. James LeMagne highlighted traffic safety issues, underscoring the lack of responsiveness to concerns raised in previous meetings, and called for community-focused action to restore civic pride. Collectively, these testimonies spotlight critical issues of fiscal management, community wellbeing, inclusivity, and transparency within city governance.
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Item 11.
The Everett City Council discussed the reappointment of Holly Garcia to the youth commission for a new term ending in November 2025, as introduced by Councilor Michael Marchese. Stephanie Smith, a council member, originally voted in the affirmative but then changed her vote to a no, citing principled reasons for her decision. She explained that while she believes Garcia performs exceptionally well in her role on the youth commission, the fact that Garcia is now an elected official makes her ineligible in Smith's view for a position on any commission, whether it is compensated or not. Smith emphasized that her opposition was not personal but based on principle.
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Item 12.
The council discussed item number 12, which was an order offered by Councilor Michael Marchese for the reappointment of Martha Lynn Jason Sokol to the Everett Cultural Council for a three-year term ending on November 30, 2026. During the discussion, Martins praised Martha Lynn Jason Sokol for her outstanding contributions, highlighting her involvement with the art lab and her role in revitalizing the arts within Everett.
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Item 15.
During a city council meeting, Councilor Michael Marchese proposed accepting $15,000 from the New England Foundation for Arts for staff training and education and incorporating public art in the city. Discussion centered on which departments would be involved, with Matt Lattanzi of the City of Everett identifying planning and transportation as the main beneficiaries. There was a keen interest in ensuring the funds would support local artists and public art installations, rather than being overly consumed by administrative costs. The grant is seen as a preliminary step towards obtaining further funding and enhancing the city's public art scene. Questions were raised about the project's relationship with other initiatives, like the Glendale sculptures, which Lattanzi clarified were separate endeavors. The discussion highlighted the importance of collaborating with the Everett Cultural Council and local artists to maximize the grant's impact, indicating a broad support for bolstering the city's arts through strategic investment and community partnerships.
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Item 16.
The public hearing focused on an order proposed by Councilor Michael Marchese to accept and expend $248,000 from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for planning and design of a shared path connecting the Encore Boston Harbor walk to the Alfred Tree Bridge. Director of Planning Development, Matt Latanzi, clarified that the funding was for the study and design phase only and not for implementation, which could seek other funding sources. Latanzi assured that the city would not be obligated to return the funds if the project's eventual costs were deemed too high. Additionally, the discussion touched upon the potential future extension of the pathway, safety considerations, and property issues related to extending the path through industrial lands. Concerns were raised about the city's financial involvement and property ownership regarding the walkway, with Council members ensuring that city funds wouldn't be unduly committed to the project's implementation phase.
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Item 17.
Item number 17, an order presented by Councilor Michael Marchese, sought approval for an appropriation of $150,000 from the capital improvement stabilization account for the Webster School roof improvement project, as requested by the school department. Smith acknowledged receiving communication from Mr. Mareschi, who was unable to attend, and expressed having questions after learning from the CFO that nearly $2,000,000 had already been invested in the roof improvement project. Smith voiced concerns about four of the five items detailed for the $150,000 need and suggested sending the matter to the Ways and Means committee for further examination.
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Item 18.
In a segment from a public hearing, Councilor Michael Marchese presented a resolution to declare the city of Everett a Purple Heart city, in recognition of the sacrifice and service of military personnel who were wounded or killed in action. This initiative, requested by the mayor's office, seeks to honor those from Everett who have served in the armed forces, acknowledging their contributions to maintaining the freedom and way of life enjoyed by citizens. The resolution includes an annual recognition of August 7th as Purple Heart Day, encouraging the community to display the American flag and other public expressions of gratitude towards Purple Heart recipients. Additionally, the hearing included expressions of appreciation for the veterans and their families, as well as commendation from Marchese for the exceptional Veterans Day celebration organized by veterans director Antoine Coleman and Gerry Miranda, highlighting the involvement of the Everett High School band and the meticulous organization of the event.
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Item 19.
The Everett City Council deliberated on an order for the appropriation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as presented on October 10, 2023. Council members, including Jimmy Tri Le and Martins, expressed concerns over the lack of specificity in how the funds were to be allocated, deeming the spending plan vague. They advocated for a more detailed breakdown of the projects and the amounts allocated to each, including clarification on previously authorized funds like the $1 million for a youth commission. Eric Demas, representing the council, acknowledged the ongoing projects and the mayor's commitment to not initiating new projects without council approval. Martins motioned to refer the matter to the Ways and Means Committee and suggested involving student representatives in discussions on their projects. Further, council members sought clarity on already appropriated projects versus new funding needs, aiming for detailed reports in future Ways and Means discussions. Concerns were also raised about ensuring transparency and accountability in the allocation of the funds, with a request for a representative from ANSER to address the council's questions in an upcoming meeting.
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Item 26.
The section involves the discussion of an ordinance amendment led by Councilor Michael Marchese, aiming to correct the consistency between the loud and unnecessary noise ordinance and the driveway construction ordinance regarding operational hours. The proposed change, as summarized by a participant named Smith, is to align both ordinances to restrict noise from 7 PM to 7 AM, ensuring they coincide with each other. Additionally, the amendment specifies that the restriction includes Sundays, indicating no noise-related activities for driveway construction or activities deemed loud and unnecessary are allowed on that day.
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Item 27.
Item number 27 discussed a resolution requested by Councilor Darren Costa concerning documentation related to the US attorney's Title Seven inquiry into the city of Everett. The city's administration reported that, while unable to provide records to the council due to confidentiality policies, they were notified of the inquiry's opening in June 2022 and its closure in August 2023. It was also disclosed that a report issued in May 2023 by the US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General found that US Attorney Rachel Rollins violated confidentiality and media contact policies by disclosing the inquiry's initiation. As a result, all documents related to the opening and closing of the inquiry, as well as investigative materials prepared by federal officials, are nondisclosable due to DOJ confidentiality policies. Councilor Costa expressed concern over the potential financial implications for the city and made a motion to place the matter on file, highlighting the importance of understanding any liability that could impact the city's budget.
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Item 29
Councilor Stephanie Martins acknowledged an update from attorney Slattery regarding the scheduling of a public hearing on the alcohol nip ban ordinance, conveyed by the licensing commission. She mentioned that there had been a lapse in meetings but assured that they were in the process of organizing upcoming ones. Information about future meetings would be shared with the public as soon as available. Martins decided to postpone further discussion on the matter until the next meeting when more concrete details could be anticipated.
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Item 30.
At a council meeting, Councilor Wayne Matewsky addressed the ongoing issue at the end of Parrish Street, highlighting resident concerns over illegal dumping and the possibility of an encampment beneath a bridge in the area. Matewsky shared an anecdote about discovering a makeshift living area years ago and noted that the problem persists with new instances of dumping and indications that people may still be living there undetected. He recounted a recent interaction a resident had with a potentially homeless individual, which, along with the area's development prospects, underscores the need for immediate attention from local enforcement and fire departments for cleanup and maintenance. Matewsky emphasized the significance of determining the property's ownership, particularly in relation to B&M Railroad, to address the area's safety and sanitation concerns effectively.
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Item 31.
Councilor Martins introduced a resolution to confirm the resident-only parking status of Dern Street during a council meeting. He expressed uncertainty about whether the street's designation had changed, mentioning signs had been replaced, and it was unclear if this affected its status. The resolution was partly prompted by concerns from residents about school employees occupying resident parking spaces rather than using a designated parking lot. Martins highlighted a similar issue previously addressed on Garland Street, which required a petition for the traffic commission to consider changes. He suggested working together on a petition and referred the matter to the traffic commission for clarification on Dern Street's parking designation.
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