[John Falco]: 26, regular meeting of the Medford City Council will now come to order. Clerk Hurtubise, please call the roll.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Councilor Bears? Present. Vice President Caraviello? Councilor Knight? Present. Councilor Marks?
[v8c6yqLwu5E_SPEAKER_17]: Present.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Councilor Morell? Present. Councilor Scarpelli? Present. President Falco.
[John Falco]: Present. All seven members are present. At this time, I'd ask everyone to please rise to salute the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Justice for all.
[John Falco]: Mr. President. If I may, I just have to read the quicksand. Thank you, Vice President. Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12th, 2020 order suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, General Law, Chapter 38, Section 18, and the Governor's March 15th, 2020 order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. This meeting of the Medford City Council will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and or parties with the right or requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the City of Medford website at www.medfordma.org. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to listen or watch the meeting may do so by accessing the meeting link contained herein. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made possible to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means. In the event that we aren't able to do so, despite best efforts, we will post on the City of Mefford or Mefford Community Media website an audio or video recording transcript or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. To participate remotely outside of Zoom, Please email ahertubise, that's A-H-U-R-T-U-B-I-S-E, at medford-ma.gov. Vice President Caraviello.
[Richard Caraviello]: Mr. President, motion for suspension of the rules to take paper 20517 off the table.
[John Falco]: On the motion of Vice President Caraviello to suspend the rules to take 20517 from the table.
[Zac Bears]: Second.
[John Falco]: Seconded by Councilor Bears. Clerk Hurtubise, please call the roll.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Councilor Bears? Yes. Vice President Caraviello? Yes. Councilor Knight? Councilor Knight? Yes. Councilor Marks? Yes. Councilor Morell?
[Nicole Morell]: Yes.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Councilor Scopelli? Yes. President Falco?
[John Falco]: Yes. Sending the affirmative, zeroing the negative, the motion passes. One minute please, I just have to get 2051 sent. To the Honorable President and members of the Medford City Council, City Hall, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, dear Mr. President and city councilors. I respectfully request and recommend that your honorable body reprogram surplus proceeds in the amount of $112,692.73. From the Medford High School HVAC Boiler Replacement Project to Medford High School Improvements Projects in accordance with Master General Law Chapter 44, Section 20. Finance Director Aleesha Nunley Benjamin is present to answer any of the council's questions regarding this matter. Sincerely, Breanna Lungo-Koehn, Mayor. Let's see, we had, let's see, I believe Councilor Knight wanted to speak on that.
[Adam Knight]: Councilor Knight? I do believe Councilor Caballero was the moving party taken off the table, Mr. President.
[John Falco]: My apologies, Vice President Caraviello.
[Richard Caraviello]: Yes, Mr. President. If we could take that off the table.
[John Falco]: That paper has been taken from the table.
[Richard Caraviello]: Oh, I'm sorry. 20516, also. Second.
[John Falco]: Do you want to vote on this one first?
[Richard Caraviello]: Yes.
[John Falco]: OK. So are you making a motion to approve? Yes. OK. On the motion to approve, 20-517. Second. Mr. President, Mr. President, is Jonathan available, Mr. President?
[Adam Knight]: OK, on the motion of Councilor. Is John McLaughlin available, the facilities director?
[John Falco]: Let's see, is John McLaughlin on the phone? Or actually, is he on the meeting?
[Richard Caraviello]: If he's not on the meeting, we can wait until later on in the meeting.
[John Falco]: We have our superintendent of schools is with us as well.
[Adam Knight]: She's John's boss, so she should probably be.
[John Falco]: Do you have a question for the superintendent?
[Adam Knight]: I do. I'd just like to give us a breakdown as to where funds are going to be expended. That was the reason why we tabled it last week.
[John Falco]: Thank you. So let's see. On the motion of Vice President Caraviello, seconded by Councilor Bears. And we have the superintendent of schools with us. Let's see. Dr. Marie Sedgwick-Vincent.
[Adam Knight]: I believe.
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: and other members of my team, Dave Murphy, Dr. Peter Cushing, and possibly Suzanne Galussi as well. So we are prepared to respond to any questions that you may have regarding the, the proposals for how we would recommend spending this money to advance work that needs to be done in all of the buildings for a safe opening of schools.
[Adam Knight]: Excellent. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Vincent. I appreciate you being here. Now, these funds, this $800 and somewhat thousand dollars, these funds are for capital improvements, correct? They're not for any personnel. They can't bring reading specialists back into the classroom or anything like that, right? These are just for capital expenses?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: Yes, absolutely not for personnel. The request for these funds are to improve our infrastructure, in particular around the areas of air exchange, air quality, to get our buildings up to air balancing, all of those things that are currently working to try to fix to make sure that our buildings are up and running and safe for a smooth reopening of schools.
[Adam Knight]: Right, but so the council's tabling of this item did not prevent the school department from bringing any teachers or any classroom teachers back, is that correct? That is correct. Excellent, thank you. Because sometimes there's a lot of misinformation that travels around the community, and that was something that was going around. So I just wanted to be sure, Dr. Vincent, that we were all clear. that the funds here that were tabled by the council at the last meeting were for capital funds only. But the council did last meeting, I believe, increase the school department's budget by $1.08 million that would allow for those positions to be restored. Is that correct?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: That is correct.
[Adam Knight]: Excellent. And after last week's meeting, I did have the opportunity to pick up the phone and make a telephone call to John McLaughlin. And I spoke with John at length and he explained to me the situation at the high school especially. relative to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. He also explained to me that there were some air quality tests that were conducted that came back. And for the most part, all of our schools came back with very good reviews, with the exception of one. And I think we all know what school that is, Medford High School. So with that being said, Dr. Vincent, could you tell us a little bit about the scope of work that you're looking to spend this $800 and some odd thousand dollars on, please?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: Yes, so there is a significant scope of work that does need to be done in particular if we focus on the high school, which is the oldest building in the district outside of the Curtis Tufts. But the high school being 50 years old has older rooms, more eighth graders. some pains, if I can say that. And so there are areas that definitely need immediate attention in the HVAC area. And so we're currently, WB Engineering is currently conducting, completed their first report on the building of the high school and what they would make recommendations for in the area of HVAC. We also have, UEC universal environmentalists coming in who are also looking at air quality and air balancing and we also have Precision, another engineering group that is continuing to look at how our HVAC systems function and work for the district. So with all of the different engineering companies that have been coming in, the cost is truly significant. For example, at the high school on the roof, to repair the fans that are on the roof, which are part of the exhaust system, HVAC system. We have approximately $150,000 worth of work on the roof alone, addressing fans and making sure that they are all properly functioning at their maximum speed and able to deliver and support intake and outtake in the building. In addition, from WB Engineering's initial report, on the high school based on the mitigation strategies that they recommended. We're talking about prices that would exceed $200,000 at the high school complex alone. And the other off-campus buildings are still being assessed as we speak. and so we are waiting for those reports to finish being completed. Some of that money also because, again, this building is 50 years old. Prior to the official ADA changes that newer buildings had to have to be properly handicapped, accessible. We wanted to set aside approximately $50,000 to $100,000 to support making the entrance to the high school ADA compliant. There is a ramp there that vehicles go up and down, but for people in wheelchairs, it is not fully compliant. And so those are some of the things that we want to be able to use these monies for. And as the other buildings are continued, are presently still being assessed, we anticipate that there will continue to be, you know, significant requirements from the district to be able to mitigate all of these HVAC challenges that could present themselves in order for us to be able to get schools up and running as quickly as possible. I also want to say to the entire body that we, as the work is being done, we are prepared and fully wanting to come back and share with both you and the school committee the progress of the work that's being done, the status of the work, and where we are in terms of using this funding to remedy the HVAC challenges that have presented themselves.
[Adam Knight]: And in terms of total cost for us to bring our HVAC system at Medford High School into compliance and I guess efficient and effective working order. Is this $816 enough money to do that or will there be a request for a supplemental appropriation at a later date going forward?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So at this point in time, we are optimistic that this will allow us to address the high school. We don't know, again, You know, we can't, I cannot definitively say that I will not need to come and ask your body for additional funding. Our hope is that the 816,000 will allow us to be able to address all of the key challenges with HVAC systems, in particular at the high school, that we would be able to remedy all of the things that were recommended in the reports.
[Adam Knight]: And is it still the wishes of the committee to have this account be exclusive to Medford High School only and to the other schools?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: We would hope that this could be for the high school and if needed for, we know the outside schools are much younger, they're 20 years younger. However, we may need to spend purchasing additional HEPA filters and We would hope to be able to use this funding not only at the high school, but potentially at some of the outside schools as well. That would be our hope if other things were to surface. But we know, we're fully aware that the high school needs significant work and that the lion's share of that funding definitely would be spent at the high school complex.
[Adam Knight]: The reason I raise the question is because the way that the paper was drafted was that it would be reprogramming the funds to an account exclusive to Medford High School. And I know maybe Alicia's on the call, maybe Alicia can elaborate a little bit on that. But I do believe that when it was presented that those funds were restricted exclusively to Medford High School and were not going to be allowed to be used in other schools in the district. If I'm mistaken, please correct me. But maybe Ms. Nunley can help us out with that.
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: I also have Mister Murphy, David Murphy on the line. He's on the call as well. And he may be able to weigh in on that. Again, as the numbers are coming in, we know for certain, the roof fans, At the high school, it's going to be a significant investment. And if the funds need to be spent exclusively at the high school, that there is so much work, capital projects, including additional bathrooms and those kinds of things that need to be renovated and updated, that I'm sure that we would be able to use all of this funding in short order.
[Adam Knight]: So it's the committee's, the school department's wishes to keep the paper as is and not amend it and allow it for just MHS only because it's only $800,000 and you can spend that all up at the high school, no problem.
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: If it is possible to allow if If there was something that were to come up at one of the other schools and we had to take a very limited amount from this $800,000 to support the other buildings, if that was a possibility, I would ask this body to allow us the additional flexibility to be able to use it throughout all of the schools. But if that would be problematic, then I would just say leave it for the high school because we know that there is plenty of work that can be done.
[Adam Knight]: It's certainly not a problem for me. The paper came from the administration, so maybe Aleesha Nunley, my finance director, can talk a little bit about that.
[John Falco]: We have the eye. If I may be a chief of staff, Dave Rodriguez has his hand raised. So at this point, I'd recognize chief of staff Rodriguez.
[Dave Rodrigues]: So like, I'm happy to answer on her behalf. The reason the paper was drafted in this manner was that it just mirrored the original use of the to high school use. The administration and the mayor are completely in support of removing the high school aspect of that and have it be applicable to the rest of the public school system and the rest of the buildings there. My understanding, after speaking with Alicia, is that this is completely improper and that it's completely in line with what the administration can do with these funding.
[Adam Knight]: So we'd have to amend the paper? Mr. President, I would offer that in the form of a motion to amend the paper to reflect that these funds can be used across the school district, not just exclusive to Medford High School. Second.
[John Falco]: On the motion of Councilor Knight to amend the paper, seconded by Councilor Scarpelli. Clerk, do you have the wording on that? On the amendment?
[Adam Hurtubise]: I second. So Councilor Knight's amendment is to allow the schools to use the funds across the school district, not just at the high school.
[Adam Knight]: That is correct.
[John Falco]: Correct. Councilor Knight, do you have any further questions?
[Adam Knight]: That's it for me, sir. Thank you.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Knight. Councilor Marks.
[Michael Marks]: Thank you, Mr. President, and I thank the superintendent for being on the call tonight and the administrative staff. The email we received today talks about WB engineering report and that the amount to look at ventilation air quality, air exchange would significantly exceed $200,000. I was just wondering, regarding the 200,000, is that particularly to the high school or is that in general across the board?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: Yes, this first report that was released by WB Engineering was exclusively to high school. And so, that $200,000 to exceed the $200,000 was just for some of the mitigation work that needs to be done exclusively at the high school. We have not received, all of the remaining engineering reports for the remaining outside schools, because the high school being the largest building takes the most time.
[Michael Marks]: Okay, so Madam Superintendent, you mentioned the roof fans. At Medford High School, I guess roughly 100 roof fans at an estimated cost of $125,000. Is that part of this $200,000 that's listed as WB engineering report?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So that $150,000 was in addition, I believe that the amount of the 150,000 was for the repairing of the roof fans. And then there are other mitigation strategies, which could potentially include HECA filters and those kinds of things. It's likely to not exceed 200,000. And I, again, significantly exceed that. But I, again, I do have David Murphy on the call and John McLaughlin, so I don't know if Clerk Hurtubise could unmute them so they could weigh in as well.
[John Falco]: Okay, I'm about to unmute John McLaughlin. Okay, John, you've been unmuted, and David Murphy has been unmuted as well. David Murphy? I'm sorry, David Murphy, I apologize. Councilman Marks, did you have a specific question for John McLaughlin?
[Michael Marks]: My question is regarding the $200,000 that was mentioned within the email we got today and also a previous email we received from the mayor. It mentioned that each classroom needed these filters at $1,500 a piece, but it didn't mention how many classrooms and if it was just the high school or if it was classrooms across the entire city.
[David Murphy]: I think I can respond to that, and I would ask Mr. McLaughlin to jump in. For those of you who don't know, I'm the assistant superintendent for finance and operations. I began work with the Medford Public Schools approximately three weeks ago, and so I've been clinging to John to try to get my own I think for this particular question, I can answer and I'd ask John to fill in the details. So where we are right now is we have the initial assessment from WB Engineering of Medford High School. There is a tremendous amount of information in that report. We've been working with WB and have additional meetings scheduled with them in the coming days to make a determination as to which of the mitigation strategies that they have identified in that report should be utilized. It looks to us like an estimate or a middle of the road approach to the work that they have acknowledged could be useful is somewhere in the vicinity of $200,000. That's where that estimate came from. The rough estimate of the $150,000 is specific to the work that is estimated needs to be done that we're looking at over $400,000 of potential work that has been identified, but the $200,000 number, the potential assess mitigation strategies at Medford High School, a comparable report has not yet been done at the other schools. And then once we have the data from that testing, we'll be in a better position to determine whether or not we should commission a similar assessment at the other schools, the way we have for Bedford High School. And it says in the memo that there is a, we understand there's an unusual sequence to having already received recommendations with regard to mitigation strategies at the high school, while the testing across the district, both at the high school and other schools, And we're going to hold off on actually commissioning that and making that investment until we actually have the data back from the testing that's currently being done.
[Michael Marks]: So through you, Mr. President, when was the WB engineering study commissioned by the school department and voted on by the school committee?
[David Murphy]: I'd have to defer on the vote of the school committee question, but it was commissioned, I believe, on the week of August 17th. Potentially August 25th. It was in that range.
[Michael Marks]: Is there a particular reason why the school district waited so long to commission an air quality study?
[David Murphy]: I think the point that is, I think we should sort of preface all of this commentary with is that we actually have no evidence right now that there is anything wrong with the air quality. Frankly, I understand there's a history and there have been some persistent questions, but to make sure that we provide as much defense against any type of virus transmission. But I think there's been a
[Michael Marks]: Right. And when did we find out there's hot evidence now that says the quality of air is fine?
[David Murphy]: To be candid, I don't have any evidence that that is the case. I think it's an attempt to, given the context and the anxiety that folks are feeling, trying to be as responsive as possible to some of the concerns that have been raised.
[Michael Marks]: Right. Right, so I'm just wondering why for the past six months, the school administration, knowing that eventually we're going to have faculty, students, staff back within our public schools. Over the last six months, didn't realize that a first step would have been to do an air quality test within the schools. And I'm not sure why it took so long to do that. But putting that aside, Mr. President, this was tabled two weeks ago. And one of the motions made by the council was to ask the administration and the school committee for a list of their priorities. Because at the time we heard of a number of priorities. One being ventilation, air quality, air exchange in order to provide a healthy and safe building. But we also heard about handicapped ramps accessibility. We also heard about the condition of our restrooms within the school department and a number of other concerns as well, Mr. President. We just recently received an email from the mayor stating that if we could release the funds, they're also looking to use some of the funds for beautification purposes in the main entrance. which I know firsthand that that is something that's needed, Mr. President. I was part of the crew that painted that several months back under the leadership of Bill Carr Jr. and a number of volunteers, so I know that's needed. But I believe, and I can't speak for my colleagues, Why we asked for a priority list was to make sure that we had a reasonable assessment, Mr. President, on what are we going to do to get our children, and our teachers, and our faculty, and our staff back into a safe building. And to me, beautification of a front entrance is probably at the bottom of the list. And air quality, and air exchange, and ventilation, and other priorities, Mr. President, would be at the top of the list. And that's what I was hoping to receive from the administration and the school committee. And to be quite frank, I am very disappointed that we didn't even get a response, Mr. President, from the council motion that was two weeks ago. That was from August 25th. Unless I'm mistaken, I have yet to receive anything, Mr. President. That's not to say that I realize that work needs to be done in that building. But it would be helpful, Mr. President, if we're going to work in cooperation with the school side, that if we have requests, that they recognize and honor our request, Mr. President, as well. I have no problem allotting money, Mr. President, but I'd like to know what it's going to go towards. Now, if we free up $800,000 tonight to go into this fund, there's no saying that they won't end up doing beautification over ventilation. I would hope that's not the case, Mr. President. And clearly, if there are 100 fans that are currently not working on the roof, you can almost bet your bottom dollar the air quality and circulation in that building is not good, Mr. President. So this is not rocket science. They're already coming out saying they have to can't change out all the filters, the fans on the roof aren't working, over 100 fans. That's what circulates air within a building. That's what provides proper air quality and air exchange and ventilation. So those are the concerns I have, Mr. President. And maybe if the superintendent or someone else from the administration can assure us that if we do release money tonight, that the priority is to get people back into the building. And to make sure that the air quality and the safety of our students, and our teachers, and our staff, and our faculty is the number one priority, Mr. President. And then we can look at other needs. My other point, Mr. President, is two weeks ago, Aleesha Nunley represented to us when we took the vote that there was other money available. I believe I asked the question, because it was led to believe that if we didn't vote two weeks ago, that we were stalling students from getting back into the building. And I asked Aleesha Nunley that question, and she said, there are CARES Act money available, and there's COVID-19 funds. that are available to work with the air quality and safety concerns. So that's why I voted the way I did, Mr. President, knowing that there's other additional funds out there. And that the fact that I want to make sure as one member that if we're going to allot money, that it go into the safety of our faculty, students, and kids, Mr. President. And I'm sure the school committee and the administration share the concerns, but if we're going to be responsible for allocating this money, like every other paper, Mr. President, it'd be nice to have a paper in front of us. And I received an email today that I just happened to be able to take a look at just briefly, but I still haven't seen anything that prioritizes work. And I realize the testing is still underway and current, but that's why I felt that if this happened two, three, four months ago, Don't forget the money that was in this account from the science labs, the 700,000, that's been sitting in the account for five years, Mr. President. Think about it. We could have moved that money in for restrooms in the high school for the past five years, for working water bubblers. You name it, Mr. President, what's needed in that high school. So this is money that could have been used over the past five years. So those are the concerns I have, Mr. President. If the superintendent can assure me tonight that this money will be prioritized for the reopening and the ventilation and air quality and air exchange and safety concerns over aesthetics and beautification at this particular stage, I will give it a vote tonight. If not, Mr. President, I will not move forward. Thank you.
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: Yes, I can assure Councilor Marks and the entire council that our intention is to get the buildings up and running as quickly as possible so that we can have students return. That is our highest priority. The concerns about the ADA, which I did mention, accessibility at the front of the high school, that is something that has always been a concern. a concern and so in fixing the ADA ramps at the front of the high school, the main entrance, at the same time that that's being fixed, in essence, you would be able to fix the school aesthetically by making it more handicap accessible and doing the work that needs to be done there. But again, our priority is to be able to get the school up and running, meeting the HVAC standards and proper air ventilation in the entire complex. We want students to be safe. We want our staff to be safe. everyone coming to work into the building to be safe. So that is our highest priority. And I can assure you as the entire council, that that's what we can focus on. Again, we are also willing to come before you as we continue to get additional reports. And as work is being done to come and update the council on the status of the work and how much of the money has been spent as well, as we continue to do the same for the school committee. But I do want to stress that this funding will be a tremendous help to the schools and allow us to be able to open and get kids back in the schools as quickly as possible.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Superintendent Edward. Vincent, thank you, Councilor Marks. We have up next, Vice President Caraviello and then Councilor Morell.
[Richard Caraviello]: Vice President. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, over eight years ago, I brought up the heating and ventilation of all the schools with the exception of the high school. And so again, this is not a new problem. This has been going on long before the COVID came in. What is the plan to address those schools that have been, for all those units that haven't been operating in there for many years, Madam Superintendent?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: Last year, for example, we did a lot of work on some of the outside buildings. I know the Columbus, we had a lot of units that were updated and if something wasn't working, there were a lot of repairs that were made to the outside schools. And so we are committed to having all buildings fully functioning, the outside buildings with their air conditioning and their heating to be working. So we are committed to doing that, and that work has been ongoing.
[Richard Caraviello]: Now, what about the air quality in those buildings, Madam Superintendent?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So the air quality in all of the outside buildings, they are currently still being assessed right now. Again, as I had said earlier, the high school being the largest complex, essentially the other schools can all fit into the high school complex. that this building took the longest amount of time. And the engineers from the different engineering companies, they are out in the field right now doing the assessments on the outside buildings as well. So that is ongoing work.
[Richard Caraviello]: Madam Superintendent, how are we addressing the inequality issues in the high school with the classrooms that are on the inside of the corridor with no windows?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So exactly, that is a great question. So we are fully aware of the classrooms that do not have any windows at all, the inner classrooms in B building and C building, B building on the second floor. And so there are some classrooms that we are looking to take offline and there are other classrooms where what would be appropriate would be to put in the, HEPA filters in other classrooms. Can you give me like five minutes?
[Dave Rodrigues]: Yep.
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: To put in air quality in the HEPA filters in the other buildings to be able to, those rooms, to be able to increase the air quality in that space.
[Richard Caraviello]: Will you be utilizing some of the theaters in that building, the study halls?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: For the study halls, if they met the air quality standard, once all of the spaces meet the correct standard, every space will be able to be used. If there's an area that it can't be used, we were given suggestions to mitigate that. So whether it's looking at the windows or adding HEPA filters, but to increase the air ventilation and air circulation.
[Richard Caraviello]: Once we establish a list and do the repairs to the high school, is there talk about bringing on a company on retainer to monitor these on a regular basis? not just do it and walk away, but have a company that'll come in there, have somebody on retainer to constantly monitor these classrooms. because I'm sure those filters are going to need to be replaced on a constant basis. So is that something in the plans?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: It is, one of the suggestions that we already have in plans is to increase, normally filters were changed twice a year and we're gonna increase that and double the filters being changed. So there are steps that we have already begun to put in place that we're gonna use moving forward to help all of the schools and to just keep a high level of air quality for everyone, all staff working and students in the Medford Public Schools.
[Richard Caraviello]: And as far as the bathrooms that we've been talking about for many years, what's going to be happening with those?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So we would definitely like to upgrade and renovate the bathrooms, and that's still on our list to get that work done. But for right now, we really are prioritizing HVAC systems, the air quality, et cetera, testing. So that's our biggest priority first, and then we will definitely be tackling the bathrooms as well.
[Richard Caraviello]: And I will echo my fellow council's remarks is I'd like to see a list, a detailed list of what's going on versus just talking about it. So if we can get that to us as soon as possible, that would be greatly appreciated, even though we asked for it a couple of weeks ago.
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So the reports that were shared today were some of just the preliminary reports that we have. We don't have other reports as of yet because the testing is still ongoing. But as soon as we have additional reports to share, we will gladly share that with the entire council.
[Richard Caraviello]: And one last question, which is kind of a, what would the school department have done if we didn't find this $800,000? Where would this funding come from?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: I mean, it's kind of- It would have been a tremendous challenge, and we would have needed to ask for additional support.
[Richard Caraviello]: All right, well, thank you.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Vice President Caraviello. Councilor Morell.
[Nicole Morell]: Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank members of the school administration for being here tonight. I understand the acute and immediate need of the schools in this time as far as preparing for the safest possible environment, and I also understand just the need to be agile and responsive in these times, especially when metrics and goalposts keep shifting. So I thank you for your work on this, and I do hope we can move this paper forward tonight. My question is, Councilor Marks touched on this a bit about the HEPA filters, the $1,500 HEPA filters that are mentioned. And I apologize if I missed this, but is there a ballpark number of the number of these we might need?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So as we are waiting on the additional reports from the outside schools as well, I don't have a specific number, but I would like to defer to Assistant Superintendent David Murphy as well. I think he got muted. I would like to defer to him. He may have more of the specifics in terms of the total number of filters needed at the high school.
[Nicole Morell]: Thank you.
[John Falco]: David.
[David Murphy]: Thank you, Superintendent. I think that's a good point. that information because there was a variety of recommendations that were contained in WB's initial report. We've been using a number that exceeds a 100, it's either 116 or 119 based on our very we're not going to be able to sort of clean or attaching ourselves too much to that specific number because a lot of this testing is going on. And as I said before, there is sort of an unusual sequence to this in that we're in a two-week window of testing and we're getting that data and hope to have all of it somewhere between that's why we commission this initial report. So we're using a number in the vicinity of 1, 10 to 1, 20, but that is without having fully digested or analyze the findings of WB or having access to the the number as stated in the memo, it's significant, and that's why we're using sort of a placeholder number of $200,000 with regard to infrastructure, internal to Medford High School. But I can't say that after we've had a chance to truly analyze both the report and the data, I can't say that we may modify that position. Now, John, I don't know if you want to add anything to that.
[John McLaughlin]: Well, yeah, and we're going to meet again Thursday with the engineer. And we're going to probably try to get some high numbers of where we need additional support. So that's sort of where we stand right now.
[David Murphy]: decisions as to how to use based on as much data as possible, understanding that we're obviously very much up against the clock. But based on our current implementation plan with regard to when students will be in the building, we have these coming weeks to try to utilize whatever mitigation strategies we think are necessary to have as much defense as possible.
[Nicole Morell]: Okay, thank you. And then just one more question through the chair if I could. Does the assessment point to that these HEPA filters would then meet the needs or is there a chance we're going to put these HEPA filters in and it's tested again and we find that we have to go, you know, even farther as far as the HVAC and things like that?
[David Murphy]: I think that's an excellent question. And exactly the questions that we're currently posing to the engineers that we're meeting with to make a determination as to, I think both exactly what is the impact now and what is the impact long term? Because right now there's sort of a heightened standard that industry experts are advising districts and other employers, frankly, to potentially utilize. And I think there's a question as to, once we spend the $200,000, the building, what exactly is the return on investment going forward? And obviously, we want the best air quality and best air exchange rates possible. And at the same time, as I said, today, we have no evidence that there's an actual problem with the building. But we're also operating in a context in which, again, people have very understanding of the
[Nicole Morell]: Okay, thank you. So really what I'm hearing is essentially it's just the nature of the beast because of the way these standards are coming down and just looking into the building this way, things are changing and sometimes it can be hard to nail down exact amounts because of that, but the intention is there as laid out in these papers and in the email we got, correct?
[David Murphy]: And I think that's correct. And to the superintendent's point that she made earlier, we certainly recognize our responsibility to report back, obviously, to the Medford School Committee and also to the Medford City Council, as to exactly what strategies are being employed, what impact we foresee those strategies having, and what is the return on investment for the community, whether it be installing capital filters, repairing fans on the roof, I think that's all I have to say. I think that's all I have to say.
[George Scarpelli]: Thank you, Mr. President. I have a few. I know that the council has asked some great questions. Just to the superintendent, if I can, Mr. President, or Mr. Rodriguez. Legally, the money that was left in those accounts, it's okay to be used in this form. I know that sometimes when you get money in certain grants or You have to use specific reasons, I just want to reassure that they are being used for what's intended and we can still move forward with that.
[John Falco]: If we could have someone from the administration, I'm not sure if Dave or Superintendent Edouard-Vincent, if you could, let's see, Dave Rodriguez, Chief of Staff. Okay.
[Dave Rodrigues]: this case. in order to just reauthorize it, essentially reauthorizing the use of the funds. The funds have already been borrowed, they're cash in hand, so we don't have to go out to bond for these proceeds. And we've actually been paying debt service on them since they were borrowed. So we've been sending you an account that we've been paying debt service on since they were borrowed, by reprogramming them so we're allowed to release those funds for that specific use, pursuant to the reauthorization. That's allowed under Chapter 44. I forget the exact section, but it's quoted within the council paper.
[George Scarpelli]: Thank you. Mr. President, to the superintendent, I know probably one of the oldest schools is Curtis Tough School. Are we still planning on having a program running in a positive manner that it's always run? And how does that look with air quality testing? Is that one of the schools being looked at as we speak?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: Yes, so ironically enough, because the Curtis Tufts is actually the oldest building, they have very, very large windows that can open. And so one of the best based on what the engineers feedback that the engineers have given to us is to allow natural air to come into the spaces. So the Curtis Tufts has, you know, very tall ceilings, very large windows in every single classroom. So although we know we'll be waiting for what the reports say, we anticipate very good remarks, scores for the Curtis Tufts that they have the ability to let in a lot of natural air to support air quality at that facility. So we are waiting again for the final reports from the outside schools that are still ongoing. And again, if air filters or something like that is needed, we are prepared to put those in place at all of the buildings, including the Curtis House.
[George Scarpelli]: Madam Superintendent, what neighbor communities and other schools are using across the country. Have we looked at using the viability of the gymnasium? We probably have one of the biggest gymnasiums in the state, and to use those as classrooms. I think that could be a viable way to move some of those classes that have some issues that can't be repaired. But is that something that we're investigating too?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: But we have not ruled out using alternative spaces within the high school complex in particular. The only fear is, you know, we have very, very long winters and it is important for students to be able, while the weather permitting, you know, they can go outside and use the outside fields. But that would be something that we would have to look at. But as a temporary measure, we would not rule out having to use other spaces, including the gymnasium.
[George Scarpelli]: OK. And again, to the superintendent, through you, Mr. President, No one thought you're going to come into Medford, become the new superintendent, handle a pandemic and other issues and the concerns that we're seeing today in society. I know that with the race issues we have, I think that I've talked to some teachers and Already the staff in professional development, you've already started a dialogue that's talking about race and making sure that our teachers are prepared for our questions from our students. Because there are going to be a lot of questions, a lot of concerns, and I'm so happy to see that the team is moving forward. It brings me to the bigger point, I think that it was easy a few weeks ago to people in higher power to slam this council because they think that what was thought was that we were hurting the kids of the city of Medford. Now, as a father of two kids in that system, that's the furthest from my mind. So I wanted to applaud this council. Because this is our job, whether you like it or not, it's to look at every penny and making sure that we're using it for the right reasons. And look at the time we spent, it's almost been an hour, and we've been talking about, this is just scratching the surface, about what this money can be used for. And these questions, If not used for the reasons to get our children back in the school for any reason, who would they hold accountable? That would be us, because we would have proved it. So I applaud this council for taking the extra time to make sure that we dotted our I's and crossed our T's to make sure we can get our students and faculty into a safe, We've already heard that delaying it to two weeks didn't have any issues with moving that point forward. So again, I know that It's easy to beat people up, but we need to stay positive. And I think that with the steps you're taking and your team is taking, Superintendent, and Johnny McLaughlin, we're trying to do to get our kids back into a safe, healthy school. What this council's doing to make sure any funding we do have goes right to the proper locations, making sure that Aleesha Nunley's working with that COVID fund, making sure that we're doing what's right. And I appreciate it, and I thank you. I do want to end just with one thing, some of the, that we have you, Madam Superintendent. The biggest question I'm hearing right now is, please, when will the kids know their schedule? I know they're scheduled to start next week. If you can answer that final question, just to give them an idea, I think it'll be very helpful. Thank you.
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: We did send out the tentative schedule of what their instructional day will look like. We have not sent out at the secondary level, the high school level over the next few days. The student schedules will be sent out. School brings is converting over and with the assignments of teachers and working on the assignments of cohorts, all of that work is taking place right now. So under normal conditions, people would have had their schedules in advance, but due to all of the moving pieces that we are currently kind of working with right now, we were not able to create schedules. Had we sent schedules out, the schedules most likely would have ended up having to change. So it's a situation where we are measuring twice in order to cut once. And so I ask the entire community for a little more patience for us to be able to match up the students with the cohorts. With the days of the week, with the staffing that's available, with all of the adjustments that had to be made, we were not able to send out the schedule, but that will be completed over the next few days.
[George Scarpelli]: So again, Madam Superintendent, I thank you. And again, I just urge the community to, it's easy to stand on that soapbox and pound your chest, but let's all have a sense of a community and understand that this is the first time for a lot of communities. And the community I'm working in right now, this is exactly the issues they're going through. And it's been a mess. So we're all working together. We're doing this together for the first time. Let's just stay positive and make sure that we do what's best for our community and our children. Thank you.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Scarapelli. Councilor Bears.
[Zac Bears]: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, Dr. Vincent. I know you're working with a smaller staff than you were working with last year, I think including the data director, so I know it must be difficult. I spent four years in Medford High School this side of the year 2000, and I can tell you if it was bad before, it's worse now. So I really appreciate the condition that the building is in and the work that needs to happen. I have two quick questions, hopefully. The first one is, has any spending on HVAC repairs or other repairs to, or upgrades to make sure the building, Medford High School, is safe? Have those happened already? Has any spending occurred?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So John McLaughlin would have to speak specifically to the spending that may have occurred. outside of the reports not coming in yet. So we, again, as we're just getting this information kind of hot off the press, we were waiting for what the reports would reveal so that we could know which way to go. Because a lot of, there's a lot of vendors out there, a lot of people saying, do this, do that. But again, where the high school has its unique It's unique structure. We have classrooms without windows. There are a lot of special parts of the high school. You know, the science wing, which is completely renovated. So we have so many different parts of the building. I know that we had held off waiting for guidance so that we would be able to really make smart decisions. But John McLaughlin could speak to what may have already been spent.
[John McLaughlin]: John McLaughlin. Yeah, so the money that you appropriated about a year ago, you appropriated, I think it was $325,000. We're going to look into doing bathrooms, a generator, repairs to the PA system, and a few other projects. So currently, the bathroom project We had to get an architect in, so I'm awaiting the architect's plans so that we can go through the procurement process and move forward with that. The generator, I'm actually waiting for a price as well to repair that generator or to replace that generator that we had talked about about a year ago. Things are moving slowly. People aren't out and about and around as much as they usually are. But we are. We're still working forward. We're also working with CPA grants to put in new soft surfaces and repair all the equipment, outside playground equipment at the Columbus, in the Brooks, as well as a study that we'll be conducting hopefully shortly about ADA compliance. for the soft surface at the McGlynn area or maybe a redesign for the soft surface play area at the McGlynn. So those projects have been moving forward with them. But as you can imagine, with everything going on it's not as it's not as easy to get the people you know to to come to come into the building and you know the exposure and things of that nature but yeah we're still moving forward and um you know and and and and if you if if you're gracious enough to this money. We're going to do some good things with it. And it's going to be a win-win for the kids in the community. And yeah, we're going to have to really, really work hard to maintain what we have. I mean, we have over a million square feet in the district. And, you know, there's a lot of moving parts, so we're constantly moving around through the city fixing things that break and as they break. And sometimes we find ourselves running around just putting out little fires and not necessarily doing, you know, some of the other maintenance issues go by the wayside. And unfortunately, Sometimes this is what happens in programs that we want to put computers in kids' hands and run programs. So sometimes building as old as Method High School paid the price, and we're paying for the sins. that have been going on since the 70s now. So it's not anybody in particular's fault. It's not somebody's fault because we're doing the best we can. We're trying as hard as we can. Now, every roof fan at Method High School isn't bad. To take the time to diagnose the roof fans, it's easier to replace them all and start off with brand new roof fans. So I don't want you to think that it's all bad. It's just that what we're trying to do is make improvements to the whole roof situation and exhaust fans. I hope that answers your question.
[Zac Bears]: Thank you, John. Yeah, I appreciate the answer, and I understand the concern of vendors coming into the building. My only other question, well, also I like Dr. Vinson saying that there are special parts of the building. I thought that was kind, kind language. My other question is just the timeline. Do you think that these repairs will be completed by the current estimated date where students might be coming back into the building, which I think is mid-October, or would they go past that?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So again, because we don't have all of the reports, we know right now that the high school needs significant work and over the next week, by the end of next week, we should have reports regarding the other schools. So again, if it's really, small mitigation that's required in the outside buildings where we, you know, as it is, we're working around the clock, but we will continue to get it done. We want kids back in school as quickly as possible, but we need to ensure that the buildings are safe and meet the appropriate standards. And so we are trying to do it as quickly as possible. We're not taking shortcuts because we do know that this is, everyone's safety and health at risk. So we want it to be done as quickly as possible, but we need it to be done correctly. So as soon as we have the data from the outside engineering reports, we will, you know, go into high gear action to mitigate, you know, and meet whatever it is that they're recommending for us to get our buildings back online as soon as possible. So my hope would definitely be that by October, we would be up and running at all, if not the majority of our buildings.
[Zac Bears]: Thank you, Dr. Vincent, and I appreciate the due diligence and the documentation sent over today and look forward to further documentation. I would move approval of both papers.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Bears. Vice President Caraviello.
[Richard Caraviello]: Thank you, Mr. President. To the chair, to the superintendent, before we install all these HEPA filters in the buildings, is all the ductwork going to be cleaned, the current ductwork going to be cleaned and disinfected?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So, I mean, based on what the engineering reports will show to us, I believe as everything's being worked on that everything will be cleaned or made to the appropriate standard, you know, possible because filters need to be added and there are a lot of other recommendations. So in just the natural course of getting the systems up and running, that would need to happen.
[Richard Caraviello]: Well, I mean, I don't want to be putting brand new filters on ductwork that hasn't been cleaned and disaffected. So I think that was the question that I asked. So is that going to happen before we do this?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: I can't speak to the steps in which, or the order in which it's going to happen. I do know that we do need filters. I don't know how the ducts would be sanitized per se, but I would believe that they're going to be putting filters onto the HVAC systems. that they would definitely have to clean it before you put, you know, even when you get your air conditioning serviced at home, they clean it and they put in new filters. So I can't speak to the exact steps because, you know, I'm not, you know, an engineer that can address the, you know, appropriate steps, but I would definitely say that yes, they would have to clean it. You wouldn't want to, you know, once you take out an old filter and you put in a new filter, that they would appropriately clean it before they added the next filter in. Again, I can't, you know, I'm not an HVAC expert, but I, you know, could not see them not taking the appropriate steps to get our system fully functioning based on what the reports are saying to us.
[Richard Caraviello]: I would ask that you make that part of your report to them that these vents be cleaned and disinfected before they come back online.
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: No, no, we can definitely do that. That can definitely be part of, once we get to the actual piece to say make sure all and sanitized and before you add the new filters to it.
[Richard Caraviello]: Thank you Madam Superintendent.
[Michael Marks]: Thank you, Mr. President. I was wondering if we, I asked the question earlier, I'm not sure if I got an answer. If the school administration knows how much, or maybe Mr. Rodriguez, how much money is available in the CARES Act and also the COVID funds for safety purposes within our public schools?
[John Falco]: Would someone like to, would David Murphy or David Rodriguez or Superintendent Edouard-Vincent have the answer to that?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: I think Mr. Rodriguez might be able to speak specifically to that.
[Dave Rodrigues]: to the council as soon as possible. It was an allocation of $225 per student. directly for mitigation efforts.
[Michael Marks]: And Mr. President, I have a question for the superintendent of schools regarding what is the current school policy on the rental of our buildings?
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So for buildings that are being rented, they have to go and be approved through the Board of Health, first and foremost. So at the high school, we do have one of the churches using the high school care and theater, the little theater. And in order for that space to be used, it has to be used at a reduced capacity, which is following the governor's guidance. And in addition to that, the renters had to submit what their COVID-19 protocols would be to the board of health. And so they had to put specific things in place. The custodian sanitized, and clean the spaces before and afterwards. They have one door that's used for an entrance, a separate door that's used for an exit way. So there are safety protocols that are put in place so that traffic, people are not crossing each other and they are maintaining social distancing. They are wearing their masks. So they have to, before anything is approved, it has to, that plan has to be approved through the Board of Health. And that's what the renters are doing. They are meeting the standards that have been set for them. And we as a district, we are sanitizing and cleaning those spaces appropriately.
[Michael Marks]: So Madam Superintendent, I am astonished. We're talking about safety and health of our students, our faculty, our teachers, staff within our schools. Why we would introduce hundreds of people that wouldn't necessarily be in our buildings into our buildings through the rental of our buildings.
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: So it's not hundreds of people because the county theater has a capacity of maybe 400. And at any given time, it's probably filled at a quarter capacity. so it is not hundreds of people that are in the building. I also want to state that I have been in the building every single day, along with the custodians, along with the secretaries, along with all of the staff that are physically reporting to work at the high school complex every day, and the building is being cleaned and sanitized. And as a normal citizen, I go to stop and shop, I go to CVS, I practice, proper hygiene in terms of hand-washing, wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer, because we cannot allow the virus to stop us from living and from doing our daily living activities. And if there is fear that any part of the school is going to be rented, then that fear is also going to carry over to students being allowed to come into the building. So we need to be able to...
[Michael Marks]: Thank you, Mr. President, and I was just trying to finish my thought, and I appreciate the superintendent's response. However, Mr. President, when I say hundreds, I said hundreds, and it's really thousands because it's not the one Saturday or Sunday they're in our building. It's over a course of time. So to sit back and say it's only a couple of hundred, That may be true for one given weekend, Mr. President, or two, but not over the course of the year. It's thousands of people being introduced into our schools. And why subject students, staff, Mr. President, to the additional people coming into the building? And I understand and appreciate there's protocols and procedures, and they have to get signed off from the Board of Health. And I can appreciate that, Mr. President. But in my opinion, when you have people from outside that are coming into the buildings, you're not sure what precautions they may be taking. They may sign a paper, Mr. President, but when they're in that building, what type of supervision is there? What type of protocols are being put in place to make sure, Mr. President, that our kids, our staff, our teachers are being safe when they enter the building the next day? Why risk it, Mr. President? They're using our buildings, Mr. President. They're using classrooms. They're using cafeterias. They're using gymnasiums. They're using restrooms. They're using auditoriums. Now, you're telling me, Mr. President, that our staff, who are very capable at the high school, are going to make sure that every inch of the high school or the McGlynn School or any other school is sanitized, every inch of the building. I have a tough time believing that, Mr. President. In the interest of safety that we're talking about and health, I would respectfully ask that the school committee look back at their policy and stop the policy of renting the buildings, Mr. President, until we're able to get this situation under hand. I realize it's a revenue source for the schools. I understand that, Mr. President, that we count on. But safety should come first. I've heard from a number of parents, a number of faculty members that are concerned about going back into the buildings because of the rentals. So I would respectfully ask the superintendent and the school committee, along with the administration, revisit the policy on renting the buildings, Mr. President, until we can get a better handle on our children going back. The issues that we're going to be confronting, not only with the rentals, Mr. President, but just going back to school in general under a COVID new society. Why compound it with the rentals of the building? It makes zero sense to me. And no one's going to tell me otherwise, Mr. President. Thank you.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Marks. Councilor Peers.
[Zac Bears]: Thank you, Mr. President. I just think the same logic could be applied to having council meetings and other board and committee meetings at City Hall and City Hall staff. Thank you.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Peers. If I may, John McLaughlin, if you're still with us. John McLaughlin. I'm trying to unmute John. John.
[John McLaughlin]: Oh, sorry. Hold on one second. I've got to get my earplugs.
[John Falco]: No worries.
[John McLaughlin]: My daughter's over with a bunch of her friends, so they wanted to get the fire going. I apologize. No worries.
[John Falco]: Just let me know when you're ready and I'll...
[John McLaughlin]: John, you can start. I'm on.
[John Falco]: OK, thank you. So a couple of questions. So with regard to the roof fans, as a past graduate of Medford High School, are you familiar with the complex? Mr. President, could you say that again? As a graduate of Medford High School, I'm very familiar with the complex. So are we replacing all of the roof fans?
[John McLaughlin]: Yeah, we were intended on replacing them all, yes. We weren't going to get into diagnostics because we figured it would be more of an expense and it would be easier if we just went up there and replaced them all.
[John Falco]: So when you replace the fans, are you cutting into the roof? Or how does that work? I don't mean to get into that.
[John McLaughlin]: No, no, no. You unhook the fan that's currently there and replace it with another one. No, you would not be cutting on the roof.
[John Falco]: OK. I was just curious as far as I know, like when I was in the school committee, and we always had roof issues. So I just didn't want to solve one problem but create another. So that's what my question was going there.
[John McLaughlin]: Nope. It wouldn't do that at all. It's just replacing existing motors. in hoods that are up there currently.
[John Falco]: Okay, thank you very much. Are there any other questions from the council?
[Michael Marks]: Mr. President, I would respectfully ask if the superintendent, I know she was trying to answer my questions and comments, if she can finish with her statement.
[John Falco]: Yes, Superintendent Ron Vinson, I'm sorry I didn't cut you off, but Councilor Marks had the floor, so if you could please continue with your comments, I'd greatly appreciate it.
[Marice Edouard-Vincent]: And so essentially the comments that I was making were in regards to the rentals. And I think Councilor Bears made the equally valid point of saying that the chambers and City Hall are also used for other events. I do feel that we need to get students back into school. We need to use good judgment. When our buildings are rented, we have security on hand. We have our custodians who get to work on the weekends and get overtime. So we have custodians who are ready, willing to clean and sanitize and follow the COVID procedures that we have in place. And yes, if we're renting a space, people do need to use the facilities from time to time. So the bathrooms will be cleaned and sanitized as well. The school committee did vote that we can rent our building spaces and work with some of the partners that we've had for a long time, provided they meet the standards that the Board of Health has put before them. And so all of those that are using any of our buildings, they've met those standards, and that's why they've been able to use this space. Those are my final remarks.
[John Falco]: Any other questions from the council?
[Michael Marks]: Mr. President, I just want to go on record that I disagree 100% with the rental of our buildings during this particular phase of COVID-19 based on the health and safety of our students, our faculties, our administrators, our teachers, and everyone else within our buildings, Mr. President.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Marks.
[SPEAKER_24]: Is the Board of Health Director on the call? Is she still here? I don't think so, but I could be wrong.
[George Scarpelli]: While you're looking, I think it's very important that Councilman Marks brings up a good point. The difference between having meetings here, this is our job. This is open for the community to get things done, whether it's voting, whether it's councils, city school committee meetings. What Council Marks, I believe, is bringing up is an option. We have options whether to keep those schools closed and making sure that we're taking our precautions to the total responsibility that we have to make sure they're safe and clean. The difference of having people in this building, this is where we do the people's work. Not to rent for a outside church group that's not even from Medford, or whether it's from Medford or not, or whether it's an athletic program or a dance or whatnot. These are things that, what I'd like to ask the health director, and I'll do that via email if she's not on, is I'd like the protocol that she used to allow 400 people to enter our schools. But then limit this body to close the doors for the people that want to come to a podium. So everybody here in this room, everybody in this room, they've been putting themselves out there. They're shopping in supermarkets. They're handing out ballots. They're coming to these meetings. So we know. That if that's the case, this building should be open. So this is going to be interesting to see what our Board of Health Director is going to answer these questions, because I, too, agree with Councilor Marks. The job that's done in this room is the business. The job that's going outside in those schools right now, that's for profit. And I don't think that's the equivalent for safety. I just don't. Thank you.
[Nicole Morell]: Thank you, Councilor Scott. Kelly, Councilor Morell. Thank you, Mr. President. Yeah, I don't really think this is the appropriate forum to debate signs at this point. I move approval of both papers.
[SPEAKER_28]: Second.
[John Falco]: Councilor Nonson, what's the motion?
[Nicole Morell]: I move approval of both papers.
[Zac Bears]: And I second.
[John Falco]: Thank you. I think, Clerk Cardavis, did you mention that there was someone wanted to comment on this?
[Adam Hurtubise]: Mr. President, Sean Beaman from 362 Lawrence Road. the city has the following question. Has anyone asked the teachers union whether, if this contemplated HVAC work is completed at the high school, will the teachers return to the building? Has the union made that commitment?
[David Murphy]: or exceeds the safety standards being set by public health officials has been a significant part of the dialogue, ongoing dialogue that we have with all of our collective bargaining partners. I didn't want to speak for them and certainly wouldn't want to make any representations as to what they have communicated in the course of those negotiations, but I would say that we studies and the analysis that is part of what we've been talking about here tonight. The various engineering firms that we've retained have been an important part of the conversations that we're having with our bargaining partners. And I think that the one point that we've made throughout the course of our discussions with teachers and the other unions is that we recognize that the advocacy for on behalf of safety, certainly recognize the importance of getting students into school and continuing their education process as early as possible. And those advocating for people for having in-person learning recognize that safety is a basic entitlement that everyone who enters the school should expect. So I think that we're trying to keep that dialogue as constructive as possible and recognizing the value from what may seem like inflicting points of view is something that's always important to remember.
[George Scarpelli]: Mr. President. Thank you. Councilor Scarpelli. If I can, I did have discussions with the union president, and I think they're waiting for the word on the air quality test as well. So I think everybody's on the same page, but I believe they haven't heard back from the administration about any of the results, and I think we're still waiting for those. So I think that once that's done, I think we'll have a better understanding what the teachers union And I think that for the discussions I've had with different teachers, if they get those assurances, I'm sure they want to get back to school too. So I've talked to many of them and they want to get back to the classroom. So thank you.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Scarpelli. Councilor Knight.
[Adam Knight]: Mr. President, thank you very much. I don't have much to say about the paper, but I did want to Welcome aboard, Assistant Superintendent Murphy, and thank him for going through his initiation this evening as his first appearance before the Medford City Council. I do look forward to meeting him in a less formal setting, and I wish him all the best in his new endeavor.
[David Murphy]: Thank you, I appreciate that. I look forward to coming back and reporting to your honorable body as to how we are being good fiscal stewards of the community's taxpayer dollars.
[Adam Knight]: On the motion, Mr. President.
[John Falco]: Thank you. On the motion of.
[Adam Knight]: Councilor Morell.
[John Falco]: Vice President Caraviello, seconded by Councilor Bears, as amended by Councilor Knight. Clerk Hurtubise, please call the roll.
[Michael Marks]: Council Bears.
[John Falco]: If I may, one minute. Mr. Clerk, Councilor Marks.
[v8c6yqLwu5E_SPEAKER_17]: This vote includes that the school administration will provide us with a list of priorities and recommendations as soon as we get them from engineering reports, correct?
[John Falco]: What's the amendment? Can you please read the amendment?
[Adam Hurtubise]: Council night's amendment was to use the farm. It was to allow the schools to use the funds across the school district, not just at the high school.
[John Falco]: Okay, was that the only amendment?
[Adam Hurtubise]: That is the only thing. Vice President Caraviello asked for a list of improvements to be made, but he didn't offer in the form of an amendment.
[Adam Knight]: I will second it.
[John Falco]: Okay, let's see. So if we could make that in the form of an amendment, please.
[v8c6yqLwu5E_SPEAKER_17]: That would be fine. That's similar to the superintendent stating that she would honor that amendment. So I would vote that.
[John Falco]: I didn't get that last amendment from Council Mars. Let's see. The last amendment was from, I believe, Vice President Caraviello. OK.
[Adam Hurtubise]: So Vice President Caraviello's request for a list was an amendment, OK?
[John Falco]: OK. Do you have that? I have it, yes. OK, perfect. So on the motion of? Vice President Caraviello, seconded by Councilor Bears as amended by Councilors Knight and Councilors Marks. Clerk Hurtubise, please call the roll.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Was it Councilor Marks or Vice President Caraviello who just made the last amendment?
[Adam Knight]: They were co-sponsors of the amendment and I moved to second them all.
[John Falco]: Vice President Caraviello.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Thank you. Councilor Bears? Yes. Vice President Caraviello? Yes. Councilor Knight? Yes. Councilor Marks? Yes. Councilor Morell? Councilor Morell? Yes. Councilor Scarpelli? Yes. I'm starting here, Councilor Scarpelli. Yes. Yes? He said yes. Thank you. President Falco?
[John Falco]: Yes. Seven in the affirmative, zero in the negative. The motion passes.
[Adam Knight]: We're under suspension, Mr. President. Paper 20517, the companion paper to the paper that was just on the table. Move for approval. Second.
[John Falco]: That would be 20516.
[Adam Knight]: So we took seven first? We took seven first. Yeah. Well, let's give them the big money now. Still second.
[John Falco]: I gotta read it really quick. 20-516 to the honorable president and members of the Medford City Council, City Hall, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155, dear Mr. President and city councilors, I respectfully request and recommend that your honorable body reprogram surplus proceeds in the amount of $700,000 $703,489.80 from the Medford High School Science Labs Project to the Medford High School School Improvements Project in accordance with Mass General Law Chapter 44, Section 20. Finance Director Aleesha Nunley-Benjamin is present to answer any of the council's questions regarding this matter. On the motion of council tonight-
[Zac Bears]: Can we amend this to also allow these funds to be used for other schools, as we did for the last paper?
[John Falco]: There's no amendments on this. If someone wants to make amendments- I would second that motion.
[Adam Knight]: Mr. President, why don't we transfer all the amendments from the past paper to this paper?
[John Falco]: On the motion of Councilor Knight, seconded by Councilor Bears to transfer all of the amendments from the first paper to the second paper. Clerk Hurtubise, please call the roll.
[Adam Hurtubise]: I second. Yes. Yes. Yes. Councilor Morell. Yes. Councilor Scarpelli. Yes. President Falco.
[John Falco]: Yes. 7-8 affirmative, 0 negative. The motion passes. Vice President Caraviello. Move for approval. On the motion of Councilor Knight, 2 approves. Seconded by?
[Zac Bears]: Second.
[John Falco]: Councilor Bears. Clerk Hurtubise, please call the roll.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Councilor Bears. Yes. Vice President Caraviello. Councilor Knight. Yes. Councilor Knight. Yes. Councilor Marks? Yes. Councilor Morell? Yes. Councilor Scarpelli? Yes. President Falco?
[John Falco]: Yes. 70 affirmative, zero negative. The motion passes.
[Richard Caraviello]: Mr. President, while we're under suspension. Mr. President, while we're under suspension, if we could take paper 20540. Yes. On the motion of
[John Falco]: Vice President Caraviello to take paper 20540, seconded by Councilor Knight. Let's see, petitions, presentations and similar papers. Petition for common vigilance license by Mohamed Anwar 2292, Boston Turnpike, Coventry, Connecticut 06238 for the Anwar Group Incorporated, DBA 711, 133 Main Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155. On file, business certificate number 128, building department, fire department, police traffic impact, health department, letter of compliance, state tax ID, workman's compensation, petition and treasurer. At this point, I recognize the Chairperson on Licensing, Councilor Scarpelli.
[SPEAKER_28]: Thank you, Mr. President. Is the petitioner available?
[John Falco]: Do we have Mr. Anwar with us?
[Adam Hurtubise]: I know the petitioner was notified. I don't know if the petitioner is on the call. I can't tell from the listing.
[John Falco]: Let's see, if Mohamed Anwar, if you are on the Zoom call, could you please raise your hand? I don't recognize anything but Okay on the motion of Top all night second of a vice-president caveat to table this paper. Clark Artemis, please call the roll Thoughts of bears.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Councilor Scarpelli. Yes. Rosario Falco.
[John Falco]: Yes. 7 in the affirmative, 0 in the negative. The motion of the paper is tabled.
[Zac Bears]: Mr. President, while we're under suspension.
[John Falco]: On the motion of Councilor Marks to revert to the regular order of business, seconded by Vice President Caraviello, Clerk Hurtubise, please call the roll.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Councilor Bears. Yes. Vice President Caraviello. Councilor Knight. Yes. Councilor Marks. Yes. Councilor Morell.
[John Falco]: Yes.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Councilor Scarpelli? Yes. President Falco?
[John Falco]: Yes. 7 in the affirmative, 0 in the negative. The motion passes 2-0-526. Under motions, orders, and resolutions offered by Councilor Knight, we have resolved that the Medford Historic Commission furnish the city council with copies of its annual report filed with the mayor as required by section 48-33 of the code of Medford ordinances compiled for the years 2016 through 2019. Councilor Knight?
[Adam Knight]: Mr. President, thank you very much. I think this is a rather self-explanatory resolution. However, the reason that it's being filed is not so self-explanatory. Here in our community now, I've never served on the council at a time where I've gotten more calls. about permits being delayed, demolition delays, and the like, Mr. President. And I'd like to take a review of the annual reports as required by the Historical Commission to be filed with the administration to take a look at what's going on. My brief research on this topic has shown me, Mr. President, that since 2009, There have been over 50 plus cases where demolition delay has been implemented in the community, but only four homes have not been demolished during this time. Four buildings, I should say, not even homes, buildings. Four buildings have not been demolished. the success rate is minimal, is minimal at this point in time. So I have a number of questions like, have these four homes been restored or did they just not get demolished? Were they restored to a historic state or were they left there to just be the same way that they were before they were deemed to be historically significant or preferentially preserved? Do these 50 plus cases include applicants who are delayed and withdrew their appeal? the 18 month or the six month period was up at the time, Mr. President. I'm getting a lot of pushback and a lot of phone calls about people who feel as though the demolition delay is being used as a weapon against them for not complying with certain requirements and certain things that are being demanded of them. And it's starting to become very problematic, Mr. President. And the reason I say it's problematic is because when we look at what's going on in this community right now, when we look at our financial situation here in this community, If we don't embrace development in the very near future, I'm going to say we don't have the ability to meet our payroll next year. For the past five years, we've generated at least $1.5 million in new growth in this community. And that $1.5 million is necessary for us to just meet the contractual obligations of our payroll. This fiscal year, we've estimated our new growth to be at $1 million, not $1.5 million as it has been for the past five years. This coupled with the fact that we have certain sectors of our economy that we need to bring back, like the restaurant industry and the hotel industry. Because those sectors allow us to raise additional revenues here for the community, Mr. President. So I think we've done a great job in expanding the offerings that we have for outdoor dining in the community. And we need to do that because the meals tax is a benefit. that we get when our restaurants do well. And the same goes for our hotels. If hotels are being turned over, we get a tax on that, Mr. President. And right now, with one in five adults out of work, 20% unemployment across the commonwealth, I think it's important for us to look down the line a little bit at what the financial situation is going to be in this community. And unless we start embracing development, generating permitting fees and new growth, we're not going to be in a strong financial position come this time next year. And a lot of this, I think, surrounds some of the work that's being done relative to demolition delay. And now the next layer of that, which is going to be if you want a permit for basic repairs or modifications to your home, you're also going to have to go before that other layer of bureaucracy and potentially be subject to an 18 month delay in the issuance of your permit. And I think that's a problem, Mr. President. So I raise this issue because we've asked for a committee of the whole on this months and months ago. It hasn't happened. We've asked for reports. We haven't gotten them. We haven't gotten them. So here I am looking at this saying, what can we do in this community to help dig us out of this economic crisis? Well, one of those things we can do is develop wisely. Another thing we can do is generate permitting fees through development that's going to bolster. When we sat down and we talked about the budget, the biggest thing we talked about was the $2.4 million deficit in forecasted permitting fees out of the building department. And how are we going to climb out of this hole? Well, I can tell you by making people who want to invest in our community jump through hoops for 18 months. That's not going to do anything to jumpstart our economics, that's not going to do anything to generate more permitting fees, and that's not going to do anything to put us in a better economic and financial situation here in the community. Preserving historic homes is important, but I think we're going a bit too far at this point now, Mr. President. I think we're going a bit too far, and I think we really need to look at it, because quite frankly, If you have someone that wants to do a development in this community and they're subject to the demolition delay, the next thing that happens is the historical commission presents itself as a design review board. That says, well, show us your designs and if we like them, then we'll let you move forward. But nothing's to say that the designs that they show the historic commission are going to be approved by the ZBA. So we have a situation where we have someone that's looking to invest money in this community. who could be held up for 18 months at historic and then have to go through the whole process of the ZBA where they may or may not ever, ever get an approval for any design that they're seeking to implement in this community if variance is needed. I just think that it's very unfair, Mr. President, and rule number one in government for me has always been do no harm. Do no harm, rule number one in government. We had to help people, not hurt people. And when someone comes into the community and buys a parcel and wants to knock it down, And when they buy the parcel, the home's just a junky home. And when they want to knock it down, it becomes historically significant. And they've invested $750,000, $600,000, their life savings into these parcels. It's a life changing decision that's being made by a board or a commission that can harm these individuals. And I think it's very important, Mr. President, that we revisit the criteria, the circumstances, and the processes that we have in place when it comes down to the demolition delay or portions thereof. We spoke about it several weeks ago. And we called for a need for a committee of the whole on this. And I ask that it be scheduled sooner rather than later. And the reason I ask is because people are being hurt. People are being hurt financially in their pocket. When one in five adults in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are unemployed and people are coming to Medford looking to invest money. I think we should embrace them and work with them, not against them, Mr. President. So with that being said, I ask for these reports to be issued and furnished to the council so that I can review them further and prepare myself for a committee of the whole, which is going to be scheduled. I have faith and confidence that it's going to get done, Mr. President. I know we're working under very strange circumstances these days. I feel like I'm at the zoo right now. Zoo, circus, the case could be made for either. But with that being said, Mr. President, I ask my council colleagues to support this resolution to get this information so that when we do have this further discussion and this further dialogue, we're all well informed as to what goes on, what the process is, and what the pros and cons of our ordinance is right now and how it affects people. So with that being said, I ask my council colleagues to support the resolution.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Council Knight. And Jeff, I may add really quick, that Committee of the Whole will be scheduled soon, as will, I'm working on the scheduling now for that, for rodents and for our big zoning meeting. So I can assure you that will be coming soon.
[Adam Knight]: Both equally important issues, Mr. President.
[John Falco]: Absolutely, so they're all on the agenda and they'll all be coming up soon. So thank you, Council Knight. And let's see, we have Councilor, Vice President Caraviello.
[Richard Caraviello]: Thank you, Mr. President. Councilman Knox, I'm sorry, Councilman Nutt is 100% right. We'll make it through this year with what we have, but next year is going to be a very trying year for us. Monies that we've normally had in the past aren't going to be coming in. restaurants, sales, all these little things. And your building department generates millions of dollars in building permits for the city. Like it or not, development is a necessary part of the growth of a community, no matter what kind. And here we are. We're stunting growth in this community, even on these small projects. So again, I support Councilor Knight on this, and I'll second the motion from this. But again, we have to look for ways to generate money for this community, and we can't be chasing people away from this community. So we need to start embracing some things. Thank you, Mr. President.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Vice President Cabrera. Point of information, Councilor Knight.
[Adam Knight]: And I'm not talking about developers, Mr. President, like Locust Street or like Moderna or Mill Creek. I'm talking about the local builder. I'm talking about someone that wants to come in and make an investment in the community, someone that's going to maybe renovate a home. Maybe come in and do an addition to a house. Maybe someone that's going to come in and knock down a parcel that's a single family home in an apartment two district and create a tax base for us with an apartment there that complies with the existing zoning. That's what I'm talking about, Mr. President. I'm not talking about these big wig developers that are coming in here from Boston that are just going to throw millions and millions of dollars away. I'm talking about builders that have a very small margin. And if they're tied up for eight, nine, or ten months and it costs them $80,000 to $100,000, they have a very difficult time surviving. And when you look at these small builders, you also have to understand that they probably employ between 50 and 60 people. 50 and 60 people that are going to be doing a job in this community, that are going to have the opportunity to spend their money in our local business districts for lunch. in our gas stations to gas up their cars, in our local hardware stores to pick up supplies. So it all goes to the circular flow of our economy, Mr. President. But I think it's very important that we look at this, and I know that we have a number of items on the agenda, and I don't want to go any longer than I already have. So thank you very much.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Knight. Councilor Morell.
[Nicole Morell]: you. Thank you, Mister President. Yeah, I want just to address one point. I know there are a number of things that were maybe misrepresented in that in those talking points that were actually addressed in this large packet. We got this this week, but I do just want to point out the fact that to your own calculations to counsel night's own calculations that over 11 50 homes over 11 years, that's about five homes a year. I just want to address the scare tactics being used in that. I don't think that's exactly millions of dollars that have been lost because of a demo delay at five homes a year. Thank you.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Orell. Point of information, Councilor Knight.
[Adam Knight]: Not a scare tactic, a fact. There were 50 plus homes that have gone through the demolition delay and only four were saved. That's not a scare tactic. That's the truth. That's the facts that were included in the packet that were given to us by the Medford Historic District Commission. And it came in the packet this evening, even though we've asked for it, I can't tell you how many months ago. And the packet that it came in this evening is unrelated to the council request that came back previously. Not a scare tactic, Mr. President, just a fact.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilman. Any other questions or comments from the council?
[Zac Bears]: Yeah, I've had my hand up since we started, so just FYI. Yeah, I mean, a few things here. So one, I don't disagree that bringing in revenue is important. I think it's a little dangerous to be making land use and development decisions primarily on how they affect city revenue, although I do agree it's an important decision. I think more importantly, though, is the larger question of process. Last week, I helped a family work through the we've had this thing where now the building department is correctly going through and making sure that the Historical Commission has at least seen permits when they go out and they've built a new online system to do just that. I helped a family last week who was having an issue with the delay and quite frankly the delay isn't from the Historical Commission. The issue has been in the building department. A permit was issued and then the building department said, hold on a minute, we need to check. And then five days later, I made a couple calls, the building department sent it over to the historical commission, and that day, the historical commission brought it back. So these permits are sitting for days in the building department. The historical commission, when they get them, is turning them out the same day, if possible, and most of the time. So, you know, I just think we need to allow or encourage the building department to accelerate the work, make sure they have the resources they need, as is well taken the amount of permits that are happening, make sure they have the resources to process them and get them over. I don't think the blockage here is the historical commission. And quite frankly, if you've driven down West Street, you can see the travesty that's happened on West Street, where a historical home has been turned into a monstrosity, and there's no new units. It's still a single family home. It's just giant and takes up the lot now. So, you know, it's due diligence. I don't think the historical commission is the problem here. So if we can accelerate this process in the building department, get everything over, I think we'll be just fine. And maybe we can avoid some of this stuff like what's happening over on West Street. Thank you, Mr. President.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor. One minute, Councilor.
[Adam Knight]: Councilor Knight. I certainly support the councilor's position to accelerate the process. Maybe that's why we need to look at whether or not an 18-month delay is appropriate or whether it should be reverted back to six.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Knight.
[Adam Knight]: Mr. President.
[John Falco]: We have Councilor Morell, and then we'll Councilor Morell.
[Nicole Morell]: Yeah, Mr. President, if I could just draw attention to rule number 17 of the council, just upon debatable merits, a councilor shall speak no more than three times or more than 15 minutes on a single issue. I think that's something that gets railroaded on this council often, and I just want to highlight that. Thank you.
[Adam Knight]: She'll make a motion for the chair to make a ruling.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Council Member. Councilor Bears.
[Zac Bears]: Thank you, Mr. President. Yeah, I don't think the issue here is the length of the demo delay. There's hundreds, if not thousands, of permits issued in this city. There's 50 over 10 years that have been subject to demo delay, and four have not been demoed, which, in my opinion, is a net benefit to the city. But again, I think the issue is making sure the building department has the resources to make sure this process moves well. I think people are doing good work. the assertion that the historical commission's functioning as a design review board is really reflective of the work they're doing. They're taking a quick look. And 99% of the time, everything is moving through the process. And I think, you know, if we can get resources to the building department to make sure that process moves quickly, that's something we should do. Thank you, Mr. President.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilman Piers. Let's see, we have Thompson, are you all set?
[Adam Knight]: I am, Mr. President. Just a request for information.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilman Knight. Okay, we have enough people that want to speak on this. Cheryl R., let's see, I'm going to try to unmute you. Cheryl, may I ask you to name and address for the record, please?
[Cheryl Rodriguez]: I'm Cheryl Rodriguez, 281 Park Street. I just want to clarify that the goal of the demo delay is not necessarily to stop demolition, so it's not failing. The length was increased to 18 months because we had a particular developer in the city who was refusing to engage with the historic mission because the time was short enough that it was profitable enough for him to just ignore them and wait it out. The 18-month period is rarely, if ever, used to its entirety, but it is an encouragement for the to be redirected to rezoning. waiting to be further blighted to increase their odds of gaining variances in the future. Perhaps you could focus on having some fees to prevent these types of developers from leaving these parcels intentionally empty to increase their profit margins in the future. This could immediately add money to the city of Medford coppers to be used in the way that Mr. Knight would like to have them. The sale for flippers is misguided. It's being quickly used to price out residents. These homes that are being purchased are not all in knock-down condition. They are being purchased by flippers because the parcels the homes sit on are large enough for them to squeeze in an additional home on the property. So they're being purchased for spec rather than to be used by end residents. This is not about the home condition. Every flip increases the assessments in those neighborhoods, which are increasing the cost for all of those who live around them. I welcome you to also embrace looking at assessments across the city, because there are some neighborhoods that are being, seeing their assessment jump by leaps and bounds, but despite the fact that our homes are not increasing in value at these rates, but are being increased based on the comps from the flips, there are neighborhoods that are not seeing their assessments jump to this level, and those people seem to think they're paying not enough taxes, and I completely agree with them. So please call for an assessment review in the city so that we can to realize that not everyone's house is worth what the flip next door is saying it is.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Cheryl. Point of information, Councilman Knight.
[Adam Knight]: Mr. President, I do believe statutorily, underneath the Department of Revenue, we are required to do real valuation every, I believe it's eight years, a defined period of eight years, every eight years we do a It's 05 is it now? I think I might have changed it. So we actually do have a team that goes out into the community and does assessments, real assessments based upon appraisals as required by the Department of Revenue and in compliance thereof.
[Cheryl Rodriguez]: you are correct. I'm happy to send you some, a few addresses that you can compare to mine and see that my assessment has jumped by a couple of hundred thousand dollars and Maryland's nowhere near that. So it's not being done evenly applied across the city, which is why I asked for an audit.
[John Falco]: Thank you. Thank you, Cheryl. Let me, I just want to remind everybody you have a minute and a half when you speak or have your question. I will now call upon, let's see, Will Navar? I'm sorry.
[William Navarre]: Thank you, President Falco, William Navarre, 108 Medford Street, apartment B. I think it's really, the canonical example here, we have a single-family home turned into a bigger single-family home. The original single-family home was unaffordable to ordinary working people, and the new single-family home was unaffordable to working people. So I consider that a net, not very much at all, other than I guess we get some more revenue. So I think it's important to look at the zoning. Make sure maybe when we do that, you see these lots, they seem fairly underdeveloped because you see the land value has gone up insane amounts because City of Boston is a very desirable place to live and work. And the house, it's just unlikely you have a $350,000 lot with a $200,000 building on it. I just don't think that makes a lot of sense. But ideally, rather than just build a massive single family home, we could build a duplex, triplex, tripledecker, something like that. And as for Miss Rodriguez's point about Mystic Avenue, she talked about a fee. I would say, before we talk about a fee for leaving property blighted, let's just stop giving a discount to blighted property. You put up a nice building, your taxes go up, you tear it down, your taxes go down. Why do we do it that way? It makes no sense. Tradition is the answer, but it's not solving problems here or really anywhere. So I hope we can take a look at that and about the zoning so that way we can, you know, zone so that families can sort of share the expensive land value by living in a duplex, triplex kind of thing. Thank you.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Will. Let's see. Next up is Kelly Catalo. Name and address for the record, please.
[Kelly Catallo]: I'm not saying that this is not just about the 18 I think we can get everybody to the same meaning we can come up with some great resolutions that benefit everybody. Thank you. Thank you.
[Jean Nuzzo]: And I think it's a growing I'd like to echo my fellow residents, Cheryl and William's comments about the exacerbated change in values when developers and flippers take a parcel and take a single or a two-family and make mansions where those were, further eroding our housing affordability within the city. And I want to just point out, when we say investing in a community, it's far more than dollars invested in a community. You can be highly invested in a community and not invest a penny. We have many people who advocate in this city, and they are investing in ways other than knocking down a house and putting up a new one. These developers are not investing in our community. They are investing in their projects, and they are doing it repeatedly. lather, rinse, repeat. Madcalf, Walnut, Thomas, Forest Street, Park Street, Court Street, Washington Street, Pleasant Street, Winthrop Street, Bower Street, South Street, just off the top of my head, the same thing over and over. Buy it for less than 500, sell one part of it for over seven. That does nothing to create housing affordability and everything to make these people a lot of money. And the gigantic holes in our zoning and loopholes in our zoning perpetuate this. I would urge you, urge you to take on your primary responsibility of zoning review and zoning reform that creates purposeful development, that creates the things that are important to our community and does in fact invest in our community. Thank you so much for your time.
[John Falco]: Thank you. And our zoning kickoff meeting will be coming up on September 23rd, just to let everyone know. Next up, we have Ryan Haywood. Ryan, I'm about to unmute you. If you could please have your name and address for the record, please. You have a minute and a half. Ryan. Ryan Haywood? Okay, we'll skip over Ryan. Clerk Carter Beach, you said someone wanted to speak, I believe.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Mr. President, that's correct. Paul Thumbel asked to speak.
[SPEAKER_20]: Hi, thanks for giving me a second here. I just wanted to kind of lend a unique combination. And I spoke earlier this summer, if you don't recognize me, I had the huge beard last time some of you saw me. I have a good combination. I'm a local resident. I live on Douglas Road. I'm a small business owner. My wife is a builder. She comes from the architecture design world. So we are a small business owner in Medford and we, on a very small scale are developing and building one or two projects in the Medford area a year. I'm also a tenured professor in the Business School of Northeastern, so I can kind of address, I see the vision of the economic impact that Councilor Knight had brought up. And I know as a small business, we keep talking about these big developers, but as a small builder who lives and works in Medford, I quite literally invest my family's life savings every time we do a project. The historical commission is a huge part of our city. I think in a different life, I would have been a history professor instead of a business professor. I love history. We strive in every project we do to save as much as we can. We have an obligation as a city to protect our history. And I logged in today to talk about a project that's getting debated later in the call today. But I can tell you the economic impact that one of my small projects has. I hire 10 to 12 subs, subcontractors, sub-small business owners themselves. So we're talking council nice numbers is conservative. 50, 60, 70 people come on my projects, and that's just a small project. Tens of thousands of dollars in permit fees for my small projects. And so all of my employees, when they go out for lunch, they're eating in Medford Square. They're loving the Tanakh. They're loving the Goldilocks. They are shopping local. They're eating local every day. The economic impact for me, if the Historical Commission can put my projects on hold for 18 months, could potentially bankrupt a small business owner like me. I cannot afford, at $5,000 to $8,000 a month, to wait for a potential hold to come through. If we get a full 18-month review, you're talking over $100,000 in financial impact. I'm one person. I don't have $100,000 to sit on.
[John Falco]: Paul, your time is up. Thank you. I apologize for interrupting. I'm not sure what happened to Paul. Ryan Haywood was up next, but I. Ryan Haywood, name and address for the record.
[SPEAKER_09]: I just want to point out to the City Council and just let everybody know here that we are, as a commission, taking note of everything that's being said. We do want to be helpful, and we want to get you guys the information that you need. So we'll be sure to send you over the information as soon as we can get it to you.
[John Falco]: Councilor Knight, seconded by?
[Zac Bears]: Second.
[John Falco]: Councilor Bears, Clerk Hurtubise, please call the roll.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Councilor Bears? Yes. Vice President Caraviello? Yes. Councilor Knight? Yes. Councilor Marks?
[SPEAKER_06]: Yes.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Councilor Morell? Yes. Yes. Councilor Morales, a yes? Yes. Councilor Scarpelli? Yes. President Falco?
[John Falco]: Yes. 7 in the affirmative, 0 in the negative. The motion passes. 20-527 offered by Council night be it resolved that the Medford City Council extend its deepest and sincere condolences to the family of Edward Tyrantz on his recent passing. Councilor Knight.
[Adam Knight]: Mr. President, thank you very much. It's with deep sadness that I offer this resolution this evening. Eddie Terrence was a kid, I grew up with him, West Medford. A West Medford fixture, a West Medford legend. Had the opportunity of going to elementary school with Eddie, high school with Eddie, and always hanging out with him down the park. Whether it be placed in a park or dug a park, playing basketball, everywhere in between, causing havoc, riding our bikes and the such, Mr. President. But Eddie passed away unexpectedly just over the last couple of weeks with a little heart problem, a little heart trouble. And he's no longer with us. And Eddie was the type of kid that made everybody around him just better. When Eddie was there, he put you in a better mood. He had a smile that could light up a room and a personality that could make the shyest person the most friendly person in the world. A long time husband to Donna Doherty, CJ Doherty and Chuck Doherty's daughter and sister. And just an all around great kid, Mr. President. And I'm very sad to see him go and it's one of those. situations where when someone's gone, you wish you had the opportunity to spend more time with them. And Eddie was one of those kids, and I don't think there's anybody that knows Eddie that could say right now that they wish they didn't spend more time with him now that he's gone. So with that being said, Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in offering an offerings of condolences. It's very unfortunate turn of events. I was on social media the other day and someone posted a picture. And it was a picture right across the hall in the mayor's office. And it was Eddie sitting down in Mayor McGlynn's chair with Mayor McGlynn next to him. There was a kid named Cedric Taylor sitting next to Eddie, who's no longer with us as well, and Justin Springer. And if we think back to a couple months ago, this council just recognized Justin Springer for the work that he's done in the city of Boston, doing outreach and communications work with the less fortunate. So it's very sad, Mr. President, when you reach a certain age and you see a picture like that of kids you grew up with in elementary school and in junior high and in high school, and two out of three of them are gone, they're no longer with us. So it just saddens me to see that he's gone, because like I said, he's a great person. And I'd ask my council colleagues to join me in supporting the family and offering this condolence to the family in this time of need.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Knight. At this point, I'd ask. Yes, let's see, Councilor Marks.
[Michael Marks]: I want to thank Councilor Knight for putting this on. Those who knew Ed knew he was a great person and good person to be around and he will sorely be missed, Mr. President. I also would like to mention we lost a resident just recently, Giovanni Puccio. On his recent passing, Mr. President, he was a tremendous father, husband, family man, and just a terrific guy. And he will be solely missed, Mr. President, as well. So I'd ask if my council colleague wouldn't mind putting that on as well, Mr. President. Mr. President.
[John Falco]: Thank you. Councilor Marks, thank you. And that will be added to the resolution as well as an amendment.
[George Scarpelli]: I'd like to thank Councilman Knight for bringing this up. What a great young man and working for Method Recreation and the boys at Duggar Park and Eddie's family and friends. I know how important he was to everybody. And just a great, great young man. So my prayers to his family and our condolences. And I appreciate Councilor Marks bringing up Mr. Puccio's name. I know that it's tough when you don't have week after week meeting and people pass on in between. So this has been very difficult, but what a great person, left a great legacy. His kids are committed, they're men and women that are committed to our community and making sure that they're giving back. And that's because he instilled that sense of community, and I think that he'll solely be missed. So my condolences to the Puccio family too, so thank you.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Scarpelli. Let's see, so we will have a moment of silence in one second. We just have to vote on this first. So on the motion of Councilor Knight, as amended by Councilor Marks, and seconded by... Second. Councilor Scarpelli. Councilor Morell, did you want to speak on this?
[Nicole Morell]: No, I was just getting my mic ready. Oh, okay.
[John Falco]: Okay. So on that motion, Clerk Hurtubise, please call the roll.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Yes. Vice President Caraviello.
[SPEAKER_30]: Yes.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Council Knight. Yes. Council Marks. Yes. Council Morell. Yes. Councilor Scarpelli. Yes. President Falco.
[John Falco]: Yes. On the 7 to 0 vote, the motion passes. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Tyrantz and Puccio families. At this point in time, I'd ask everyone to please rise for a brief moment of silence. 20-528 offered by Councilor Knight. Be it resolved that the Medford City Council recognize the efforts of the community partner Armstrong Ambulance, most notably Gail Armstrong, Richard Armstrong, and Sean Mangan, for their contributions toward the success of the August 18th and 19th COVID-19 screening for Medford High School families. Councilor Knight.
[Adam Knight]: Mr. President, thank you very much. We've all been around Gail Armstrong, Richie Raymond, Sean Mangan at one point or another being involved in this community. And the outreach work that Armstrong Ambulance does and the give backs that they give to this community are innumerable. Just recently, about a month ago, Armstrong Ambulance was tasked with the responsibility of helping do COVID testing for the MHS families up at Medford High School. And to say that that was a momentous task is an understatement. But through their efforts and that of our friends in the Board of Health, they were able to pull it off. When you look at the testing that's been done in our community versus surrounding communities, you'll see that Medford's probably, at the time that this was done, about 1,000 tests ahead of the nearest community. I think the only community around here was Lynn that had tested more people than the city of Medford. So it goes to say and it goes to show that The strength of community partnerships can go a long way in all aspects of public life, but especially public health here. We've seen the community rise up and come together during this coronavirus situation. And I think that the efforts in the work of Gail, Richie, and Sean shouldn't go unnoticed, Mr. President. Not only in this endeavor, but in all that they do. Whether it comes to the free CPI training that they give to our coaches or the IADs that they've donated to our community. Armstrong does a lot, and I think it's important that we recognize what they do and the work that they do. So with that being said, I'm asking my council colleagues to support me in this agenda item this evening.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilman Knight. Vice President Caraviello.
[Richard Caraviello]: Thank you for bringing this up. The Armstrong family, Rich and Sean, they've been great people for our community. I mean, I've had the opportunity to work with them on many projects. I've been trained by Sean Manion many times to be CPS certified, Red Cross certified. So again, these are good people. They're there all the time. Long before the COVID, this company has been out there. Anytime the community has needed some assistance with anything, they've been there. So again, I thank them for the work that they've done in our community.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Vice President Caraviello. On the motion of Councilor Knight, seconded by- Second. Seconded by Vice President Caraviello. Clerk, please call the roll.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Councilor Bears? Yes. Vice President Caraviello? Yes. Councilor Knight? Yes. Councilor Knight? have a motion to approve the Councilor Strapelli? Yes. President Falco?
[John Falco]: Yes. Seven in the affirmative, zero in the negative. The motion passes. 20-529 offered by Councilor Knight, be it resolved that the Medford City Council be provided with a monthly report of crime statistics from the Chief of Police. Councilor Knight.
[Adam Knight]: Mr. President, thank you very much. And I know Councilor Marks has a similar paper on the agenda this evening. I bring this paper forward.
[Michael Marks]: Thank you, Mr. President. If my council colleague wouldn't mind adding my paper on to this, paper 20-542, where they are similar in nature. Sure. Would you like to make a motion to join the papers? Please.
[John Falco]: I second that motion and defer it to a senior member. On the motion of Councilor Marks, seconded by Councilor Knight to join the papers, and that would be 20-529 off by Councilor Knight. 542. 542 offered by Councilor Marks. That paper reads, be it resolved that the recent rash of break-ins and home invasions be discussed in the interest of public safety. Clerk Hurtubise, could you please call the roll on joining those two papers?
[Adam Hurtubise]: Correct. And just so I'm clear, 20542, that was the emergency paper you added under suspension, Councilor Marks? Correct. OK. And this is to join the two. Councilor Beres? Yes. Vice President Caraviello?
[Richard Caraviello]: Yes.
[Adam Hurtubise]: Thank you. Councilor Knight? Yes. Councilor Marks? Yes. Councilor Morell? Yes. Councilor Scarpelli? Yes. President Falco?
[John Falco]: Yes. Seven in the affirmative, zero in the negative. The motion passes and the papers are joined. At this point I recognize Councilor Knight.
[Adam Knight]: Mr. President, thank you very much, and thank you to Councilor Marks for allowing me to proceed first. I bring this paper forward, Mr. President, in light of a recent string of troubling events that have been brought to my attention. Home break-ins in the West Medford neighborhood, home invasions in the heights in South Medford, in the West Medford neighborhood. We have a crime analyst, Mr. President, that we budgeted, and the crime analyst does an excellent job. And I know that our decision makers in the police department are using that data to make good policy recommendations and good policing recommendations. But I think it's also important, Mr. President, that we have the opportunity to review this data to see what type of crime is happening in our community, whether it's violent crime, whether it's crime of personal property, whether it's domestic violence, whether it is. any number of identifiable trends or patents that will allow us to be dynamic and flexible in our response to it, Mr. President. I'm more than happy to sit down and discuss supplemental funding. I'm more than happy to sit down and discuss providing. any department in this community with the tools that they need to succeed. And I think it's very important for us to have a good understanding as to what the trends are and what the patents are in this community, so that we can get ahead of it and invest money in certain areas that we need to invest money in. For example, we have Harold McGilvery, he's our dog officer. He's an awesome dog officer, he does a great job. Maybe based upon the crime statistic and crime trends, we need two dog officers. We have a traffic division. We have a traffic division comprised of so many officers. Maybe based upon the crime statistics and the accident statistics, it shows that we should be having more officers in the traffic division and less officers in another division. Operational questions, Mr. President, certainly stuff that comes under the purview and scope of the Chief of Police. But that's something that's contingent and reliant upon funding. And if we're going to be spending the money, I want to make sure we're spending it in the right place to make the most impact and the most bang for our buck. And with the uptick in violent crime in this community, I think this is something that we really need to look at. And I shouldn't even say it's an uptick, because I don't know, because I haven't seen the stats. I should say with the public reporting of violent crime of recent in the community, I'm wondering if this is something that we need to be worried about. So with that being said, I'm going to defer to Councilor Marks, Mr. President, but thank you very much for indulging me.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Knight, Councilor Marks.
[Michael Marks]: Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank my council colleague, Councilor Knight, for putting this on the agenda as well. For the past several years, Mr. President, I've called for a public safety summit within this community. And to date, I'm not proud to say that we have yet to have a public safety summit. with all the parties to be within this community to discuss these very issues. And Councilor Knight may not say it, but I am going to say it, Mr. President. Violent crime is on the uptick in this community. And you only have to read the paper, watch the local news, and talk to your neighbors. And you'll hear what's happening in this community, Mr. President. From home invasions, to car break-ins, to home break-ins. It's happening all over the community, and I think it's very important. I realize we do have a crime analyst in the community that's gathering crime data. But the data is only as good, Mr. President, when it's being used for. So if it's not being used to update and provide the latest and greatest for our police department, then it's not good data. If it's not used, Mr. President, to get the word out to the community, and that is key. That is key in this community. I've talked to a lot of seniors in this community that are unaware, Mr. President, on what's happening. And I tell people constantly that may leave their front door open or their car unlocked to say, you know what? Those days are behind us. I hate to say it, they're behind us now. And you should always proceed with caution. And I believe you should be locking your front door, even during the day, Mr. President. I believe you should be locking your car. You should be watching out for your neighbors. You should leave a light on. that may deter someone from robbing a house or a car or so forth. But I think the announce of prevention goes a long way, the old saying. And we have to get word out to the community, not to alarm people, but to let them know what's happening. To let them know that they should take extra precaution, Mr. President. And I ask that our police department step up patrol around the community. I ask that we do have this public safety summit to discuss some of the concerns we have. Just recently, Mr. President, and I won't get into the details, we had a home invasion that involved a 92-year-old woman that luckily, Mr. President, was able to escape. because God knows what would have resulted if she was not able to escape, Mr. President. And there's been some scuttlebutt around the community that this person may have been part of. a halfway house in the community, and living in our neighborhood, and living amongst us, Mr. President. And that raises some concern for residents, and rightfully so, Mr. President. So I think as a community, we have to take a step back and look at what's happening in our community, ways we can address issues, ways we can make our residents safer, Mr. President. We have a large percentage of seniors, and seniors are very vulnerable, Mr. President. So that's my concern. I would ask once again that we create a public safety summit. I'm not sure why it's impossible to get a public safety summit together. I think I must have offered it three or four times. And I've yet to get any buy-in from the former chief or this chief or anyone else, Mr. President, administration or anyone else to sit down and discuss these issues. Because this is hitting home now. It's not somewhere you're saying, well, this happens here or there. It's happening in our neighborhoods. It's happening to our neighbors. And it's concerning, Mr. President. So I just want to put that out there, that once again I ask for a public safety summit where we can sit down around the table and discuss some of the concerns we have. If it's funding, then as Councilor Knight mentioned, then the council should be aware of that. If it's additional manpower, if it's additional tools that the police department needs to get the job done. If it's additional outreach, community outreach, then so be it to make sure that residents are aware of what's happening. I've asked in the past to use the reverse 911. You know, it's great to get when there's a road race in the city and you get a reverse 9-1-1, but 9-1-1 is for emergency. What better emergency than if there are home invasions and people being attacked in our community, Mr. President? You know, and how blatant when someone's sitting there and someone jumps through a picture window, a glass picture window, with the person sitting right there. They weren't trying to avoid detection. They weren't trying to avoid the person. These are very serious incidences, Mr. President, and they need to be discussed and addressed. And I realize the police are probably working on their own, and things that they can't relay to the public, and I realize that. But I also believe the public should be well aware of what's going on, and we should be open and notorious when it comes to alerting residents of this community. And I want to thank my colleague for putting this on.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Marks. Councilor Bears.
[Zac Bears]: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, colleagues, for putting it on. I completely agree that we need to look at trends and patterns and really be able to analyze and make the best decisions possible. So I'd just, you know, I'd like to amend the paper for getting reports and data back to the year 2000, if possible. I understand that might take more time, so I'm not going to put a time limit on it, but I would love to be able to see the long-term trends. Thank you.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Bears. Point of information, Mr. President. Point of information, Councilor Knight.
[Adam Knight]: I do not believe we had a crime analyst going back that far. I think a crime analyst was something that I believe in your first term, Councilor Scott-Pelly's first term was something that we had put into the budget. So while I think that the data exists in terms of paper records and paper files, there wasn't someone there that was actually working as a crime analyst compiling that stuff and looking at trends and patterns and the such. So I'd ask that it be offered in the B papers to not hold up the underlying paper that's been offered on top of it.
[Zac Bears]: That's fine with me. I'm putting a timeline on it. It seems like there's data going back a few years. That could be really helpful, and maybe longer if it's there.
[John Falco]: Thank you, Councilor Bears. Clerk Hurtubise, do you have the language on the B paper?
[Adam Hurtubise]: Yes, Mr. President. I have a question after that. Councilor Bears originally offered an amendment, which is now a B paper, requesting reports and data back to the year 2000 on crime statistics.
[Zac Bears]: if possible.
[Adam Hurtubise]: OK. And then I have another question, if I may. Yep. Councilor Marks, you asked for a minute to the papers. I'm sorry, I didn't hear that.
[John Falco]: I didn't hear that. Did you say it was an amendment? Were you asking if it's an amendment?