Everett City Council
Tuesday February 27, 2024
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 1.
At a public hearing, National Grid proposed the installation of underground conduit measuring approximately 5-7 foot in length and 2-3 inches in diameter from an existing utility pole to a property on 14 Baldwin Avenue to provide permanent electrical service to a new street lighting system at the Wasket Playground. The project, described by Jose Luis Azaria of National Grid, is customer-driven. Questions from council members Peter Pietrantonio and Stephanie Smith addressed concerns about the process of digging up the sidewalk, the responsibility of restoring it to its original state, and the timeline for the project's completion. National Grid confirmed the restoration responsibilities lie with their contractor, and the work, aimed at benefiting the city-owned playground, would take approximately one day. Despite the council moving to a vote with a motion for favorable action, Katy Rogers expressed dissent due to unrelated issues, signaling a broader tension. The petition was ultimately granted.
Show more... Show less
ITem 2.
During the hearing, National Grid proposed installing underground conduits from an existing pole to a customer-owned manhole on Second Street to power a new Encore parking garage. However, there were confusions and concerns, including about a separate issue involving work at Glendale Towers previously discussed. Councilor Matewsky highlighted prior unsatisfactory work by National Grid in the area and expressed reluctance to approve further projects without receiving requested information. Questions were raised about the specifics of the project, including its impact on Second Street, whether it would disrupt traffic, and details about the contractors and timeframe. A resident opposed the project, citing recent roadwork and the condition of city streets. Ultimately, the petition was not approved.
Show more... Show less
Public Comment
During the public comment segment of the meeting, various residents expressed their concerns on several issues. Peggy Serino highlighted severe infrastructural problems at the old high school, questioning the wisdom of using it for preschoolers given its condition. John Puopolo raised concerns about the high insurance costs for the old and deteriorating Everett High School compared to Pope John, suggesting potential financial mismanagement. Mary Fortin criticized the high insurance and maintenance costs of the old high school, deeming it a waste of resources. Paula Sterite expressed skepticism about the profitability of the ambulance service, highlighting the high operational costs and suggesting it might not break even as expected. Residents also touched on other topics such as the need for more participatory processes in city governance, particularly in the decision-making surrounding the use of ARPA funds, as addressed by Samantha Lambert. Al Lattanzi advocated for better resources for the Everett Fire Department, specifically the need for an additional ambulance. Joseph Perotti and David Fortin brought attention to the mismanagement in the maintenance and renovation of school buildings, and the poor accessibility and responsiveness of the Veteran Services Office, respectively. The segment concluded with several motions, including to close public participation.
Show more... Show less
Items 12. & 13.
During a section of the public hearing, Smith addressed the reappointments of Rebecca Korom Esquire and Derek Shooster to the zoning board of appeals for three-year terms expiring January 31, 2027, noting their favorable evaluation by the committee. Cornelio confirmed the orders of reappointment offered by the President. A motion to accept the committee report was entertained. Stephanie Martins from the Everett City Council clarified that those reappointed provided proof of residency and their resumes were reviewed during the last Legislative Affairs meeting, not the current one. The reappointments were unanimously approved with 9 yeas and 0 nays.
Show more... Show less
Items 5., 6., & 7.
A motion was made and approved to collectively consider items 5, 6, and 7, all petitions for license renewals presented by Councilor Robert Van Campen. The petitions included a lodging house license for Prescott House, an inholder license for Broadway and Main Hotel, and a special license for extended operation hours for Loved Hot Dog Buffet Inc. Clarifications were sought regarding the novelty and terms of the special license, with it being confirmed that the hotdog buffet has been a regular applicant since 2018, and its operation includes late-night hours extending to 4:00 a.m. on some days. The venue was mentioned to be located in a parking lot shared with motor cycle businesses and operates from Wednesday to Sunday evenings. The paperwork for all petitions was confirmed to be in order, leading to a unanimous vote for renewal.
Show more... Show less
Item 26.
Councilor Michael Marchese proposed a resolution for the city's Chief assessing officer to report on potential major decreases in property values due to the closures and changes in large companies such as power plants and Exxon. Bernard Devereux, from the city of Everett, clarified the status of the LNG facility and explained the complexities in predicting the fiscal impacts of these changes due to pending contracts and regulatory approvals. He anticipated a 10% reduction in the assessed value of the LNG facility and a significant 45% reduction for the Mystic generating station due to its closure. Despite these reductions, the conversion of commercial sites to residential ones has led to an increase in revenue from apartment buildings, now among the top taxpayers in the city. Discussions also delved into the specifics of monetary contributions from these properties and the potential impact of National Grid's contract to buy LNG, not the facility itself, from Exxon. The hearing concluded with a motion to refer the item back to the sponsor for further consideration.
Show more... Show less
Item 25.
The public hearing involved a thorough discussion about the operations and financial impact of the city-owned ambulance service, prompted by Councilor Michael Marchese’s resolution for a performance report from the Fire Department. Chief Joseph Hickey of the Everett Fire Department provided statistics on ambulance call responses, transport rates, and billing procedures. He indicated that since its inception in September 2020, the ambulance responded to over 1200 calls, with 71% resulting in transports. Billing for these services is based on the level of care provided, factoring in reimbursements for advanced life support services. Discussion also touched on the potential revenue generated from these operations and the possibility of expanding the service based on its financial viability and impact on public safety. Additional topics included the benefits of the ambulance service in reducing response times, inquiries about grant opportunities to subsidize costs, and the idea of establishing a public safety facility near the casino to better serve the area’s needs. The dialogue concluded with plans to involve new council members in understanding the ambulance operations by scheduling a visit to the Hancock Street Station where the ambulance is housed.
Show more... Show less
ITEM 24.
During the discussion of National Grid's petition to install underground conduit at 33 Mystic Street, council members raised concerns about unresolved issues with the utility company, particularly regarding Glendale Towers' need for upgraded circuit breakers to enable proper air conditioning. Despite the information gap, Councilor Matewsky didn't want to delay the project—identified as a parking garage for Encore—pending further information on National Grid's commitment to address the concerns. The direction of the conversation suggested seeking clarification from the director of housing over National Grid for the Glendale Towers issue. However, representatives assured swift turnaround for inquiries, prompting Matewsky's support for the petition, while some council members voted against it due to National Grid's lack of engagement on a separate matter. The motion to grant the petition passed with six ayes to three nays.
Show more... Show less
Item 21,
Councilor Stephanie Martins and the city council requested an update on the selection process for a new permanent fire chief. The Human Resources Director, Terri Ronco, provided a detailed response, outlining the assessment components for candidates including various exercises aimed at evaluating their handling of situations, problem-solving, oral presentations, media handling, and community-based scenarios. The job description has been finalized, and coordination with civil service is underway to schedule the assessment center, expected in the second or third week of April. A virtual orientation for applicants will be conducted by the vendor, with an additional orientation before the assessment center, which will be held at a space secured with the Everett Police Department. Following the update, Martins moved to postpone the item for further updates to the last meeting in April.
Show more... Show less
Items 8. & 9.
Cornelio presented two petitions on behalf of Robert Van Campen for Emporium Auto Body Shop Inc located at 367 3rd Street; one seeking a new mechanical repair license and the other for a new class 2 vehicle motor dealer license. DiPierro proposed to refer both items to the committee on community and business development, and this motion was accepted as the ayes have it, leading to the referral of the petitions as suggested.
Show more... Show less
Items 16. & 17.
City Councilor Robert Van Campen has proposed an order to borrow $11,400,000 for improvements to the old Everett High School located at 548 Broadway. Following this, Councilor Guerline Alcy Jabouin submitted a resolution requesting a comprehensive report on all costs associated with maintaining the old high school, including utilities, maintenance, heat, insurance, and any allocated funds for its upkeep. Councilor DiPierro then suggested that both items be discussed further in a special city council meeting scheduled for March 7th, which the council agreed to, referring items 16 and 17 to the slated meeting.
Show more... Show less
Item 15.
In the discussed public hearing, Councilor Robert Van Campen, serving as President, proposed an order to allocate $115,000 from the budgetary fund balance free cash to be divided between fire department equipment maintenance ($50,000) and BLS 1 operating funds ($65,000). Councilor Smith noted that after a thorough review and in-depth discussion with the fire chief and the CFO in the Ways and Means Committee, he recommended favorable action. The order was unanimously passed with a vote of 10 ayes to 0 nays.
Show more... Show less
Items 19. & 20.
During a public hearing, councilor Robert Van Campen presented orders for the appointments of Millie Cardello to the board of assessors and DeAnne Mullett to the Board of Health, each for a term of three years expiring in February 2027. These appointments were previously discussed in a legislative affairs meeting where both appointees were interviewed. Questions arose regarding the current composition of the board of assessors and the status of a member, Mr. Hart, who had resigned. Despite an outdated report listing Mr. Hart as a current member, it was clarified that Ms. Cardello would fill his vacancy. Councilor Guerline Alcy Jabouin opposed the appointment of Ms. Cardello, arguing it was not a fair process as the position was not opened to the community for applications. The council proceeded to vote, passing both appointments with a majority, despite Jabouin's objection regarding the appointment process's fairness.
Show more... Show less
Item 3.
The section details a decision-making process regarding an order proposed by Councilor Robert Van Campen to accept and extend a donation of $200 in gift cards from the Members Plus Credit Union. These cards are intended as prizes for a Black History Month Basketball event at the Recreation Center on February 17th, 2024. The motion for favorable action and to send a letter of thanks to the donor was made by DiPierro, seconded, and unanimously passed by a vote of 10 ayes to 0 nays as announced by Van Campen.
Show more... Show less
Item 4.
Councilor Robert Van Campen introduced an order for the Everett Police Department to enter a five-year contract with Equature for E-911 dispatch equipment maintenance and service, starting from January 15, 2024, to January 14, 2029. The council discussed the novelty of the contract and its financial implications, including a specific reference to a budget concern revolving around $13,000. Despite queries regarding whether this service represents a new provider or a renewal with the existing one, and discussions on the necessity and cost of the service, the council decided to refer the matter to the Ways and Means Committee for further examination, emphasizing the importance of upgrading to state-of-the-art communication technologies while also considering the cost.
Show more... Show less
Item 11.
In this section, Councilor Stephanie Smith and Councilor Stephanie Martin proposed a resolution for adopting an annual performance review for city council employees. Smith highlighted the inclusion of a rollout plan for these reviews, which had been amended after committee discussions. A motion was then made and seconded to accept the committee report, which included the amendment for the written rollout plan and was aimed at implementing these performance reviews favorably. The motion for the resolution was put to a vote, received unanimous approval with all present members voting in favor, and was thus passed.
Show more... Show less
Item 14.
At a public hearing, an order offered by Councilor Robert Van Campen, the President, was discussed concerning the reappointment of James Booker to the disability commission for a three-year term expiring January 31, 2027. A motion to accept the committee report on the order was proposed by Martins and seconded, leading to a unanimous vote by the council with 10 ayes and 0 nays, effectively passing the reappointment of James Booker.
Show more... Show less
Item 18.
Council Robert Van Campen introduced item number 18, proposing an amendment to the city council's public participation rules to align with a recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling. The motion to accept the committee report was made and subsequently seconded. Councilor Smith reminded everyone that discussions about the changes had already taken place in a previous meeting and advised councilors not part of legislative affairs to refer to that meeting for any questions. The motion for favorable action on the order received unanimous approval, with a vote of 10 yeas and 0 nays, leading to the passage of the order.
Show more... Show less
Item 22.
The discussion pertains to a resolution introduced by council member Anthony DiPierro concerning the commencement of construction for street speed tables as soon as the weather allows. DiPierro requested the postponement of decision-making to the April 15th meeting, aiming to ensure the project indeed kicks off as planned, based on a communication from Mr. Monti that proposes a start in April. The motion to postpone item 22 to the first meeting in April was moved, seconded, and unanimously approved.
Show more... Show less
Item 23.
Item number 23, a resolution proposed by Councilor Anthony DiPierro, called for an update on the reconstruction of the Arthur Nelson aka Fuller Street Playground. DiPierro acknowledged Ms. Deveney’s update that the project was slated for capital expenditures and scheduled to start at the beginning of the next season, expressing satisfaction that progress was being made but disappointment over the delay. A motion was made and seconded to refer item 23 back to the sponsor, and it passed without opposition.
Show more... Show less
Item 27.
In a recent public hearing, councilor Stephanie Martins presented resolution item number 27, requesting an update from the CFO on the formation of the municipal scholarship committee, aimed at supporting the graduating class of 2024. The CFO responded with a communication indicating that the administration is in the process of finalizing the committee's membership by the week's end, with the first meeting scheduled in the upcoming weeks. The CFO committed to keeping the council updated on the committee's progress and meeting dates. Following the CFO's update, Martins opted to postpone the discussion of the item until the first meeting in May, a motion that was made, seconded, and unanimously approved.
Show more... Show less
Item 28.
The public hearing involved discussions on the application process for APA funding for local organizations and small businesses. Councilor Martins inquired about updates on the dispersal of funds and proposed inviting Erin Deveney for an update. Deveney explained the allocation of $11.2 million in funding across various sectors, including public health, housing assistance, and small business support, and mentioned the availability of applications and assistance for potential applicants on the city's website. The discussion also covered concerns regarding the selection criteria for applicants, the potential involvement of the Chamber of Commerce in processing applications, and the outreach to ensure inclusivity, especially for businesses of color. Additionally, queries were raised about whether youth programs could apply for these funds, with Deveney clarifying eligibility based on fitting certain criteria under federal guidelines. Finally, Councilor Martins motioned to refer the item back to the sponsor, which was seconded and carried through a voice vote.
Show more... Show less
Item 29.
Council members discussed Resolution 29, initiated by Councilor Robert Van Campen and Councilor Stephanie Martins, concerning the recruitment of a new Chief of Police following Chief Mazzie's pending retirement. Mayor DeMaria responded, detailing that the position would be advertised internally to candidates presently at the rank of sergeant or higher within the Everett Police Department (EPD). The Mayor highlighted Chief Mazzie's agreement to stay until a successor is found, ensuring a smooth transition, with a retirement date no later than June 30th, 2024. Council member Pietrantonio expressed support for the internal hiring process and Chief Mazzie's continued tenure until his replacement is appointed. Consequently, a motion was passed to refer item 29 back to its sponsor, with unanimous approval from the attending council members.
Show more... Show less
Item 30.
Councilor Katy Rogers proposed a resolution for senior and disabled residents of Everett to be able to request free house address numbers by calling 311, addressing a safety issue identified during her campaign. This initiative utilizes grant money from the Everett Fire Department, aiming to aid vulnerable residents who might lack visible house numbers, making it hard for emergency services to locate them. Massachusetts law mandates residences to have identifiable numbers, and this resolution seeks to ease enforcement by leveraging city resources. Rogers' motion was to facilitate a collaboration between the city's 311 service and the fire department to ensure the availability of this service, which received unanimous support from the council.
Show more... Show less
MAINTENANCE REQUESTS A.
Councilor Holly Garcia submitted a maintenance request to install a mirror at the intersection of Bradford Street and Hancock Street to improve visibility for drivers. Additionally, there was a reminder about ongoing early voting taking place at city hall with specified hours throughout the week and an advisory about the upcoming presidential preference election on Tuesday, March 5th. Voters were informed to verify their polling locations, which might have changed since the last election, with the elections commission office, and were reminded that polls would be open from 7 AM to 8 PM on election day.
Show more... Show less