##VIDEO ID:H3JTAdtsO0c## this government meeting is brought to you by eastworks and our local cable subscribers good evening welcome to the samton city conso meeting for Wednesday December 18th the meeting tonight is being record and broadcast by edia on chatter channel 193 and live streaming on their web page Ison media.org consors are participants in this meeting are gathering hybrid on the order extended until March 2025 which allow us to do so I remind both the member of the city council and the public participate in remote remain mute un recognized by the city council president also for the member of the public please remove your camera for the duration of the meeting unless you are participating in public spook public speak time or the public or the public hearing thank you this meeting is now called to order Barbara Hy denam here Salem Derby Omar Gomez here JP kazinski Tom Peak here Brad Riley here camon Smith here jell here pres before the moment on silent I just want to make an announcement we're supposed to after the pledge of delance we are supposed to do the saring for the firefighters um then God that we have them because they are in service now and they're working in a call um I promise that as soon they show up we're going to do this one in uh for now we're going to do a moment of [Music] silence thank you the place of the Al 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 I commit to work um they're here but the Nicole is not here so we going to wait until the mayor show up um so I would take a motion to approve the minutes of December 4th second I have a motion and a second to approve the MERS of December 4th any further discussion seeing none uh for those one in favor I any against exstension I abstained because I was not in that meeting police speak time this is the opportunity to the public to address to the council any regarding topic no listed on the public hearing do you have three minutes to talk to the council uh at the at the public hearing we have a few items uh one of them is going to be the increase of the school committee and and the city council is going to be part of the public hearing um you have the opportunity now to talk to the council that is not related to the Ping hearing please state your name and address for the record and please make all the comments to the council good evening my name is Kathy wizinsky uh I live on Overlook Drive um I it's my understanding that tonight you will be potentially sending the concern about the flag over the national Pond to a committee for review um I appreciate your thoughtful consideration of that concern it really um has stirred up quite a few feelings in the community and I would encourage you to leave it in place from Veterans Day from Memorial Day to Veterans Day going forward thank you thank you counselors Dan RIS 26 Line Street I used to be sitting where you are and I respect all of you very much I would like to thank president Gomez for my appointment to the CPA committee I believe my experience with the CPA will be valuable to the city thank you for considering for your consideration and confirming my nomination I would also like to thank president Gomez for his service to this Council and to the city he has demonstrated what a leader should be always fair in his decision making while always trying to be informed about the issues in front of the council he spent more time at City Hall than any president I have known including myself learning about City Affairs and the city's financial status by doing his homework he gave the council informed opinion and guiding influence also as our first Hispanic counselor he demonstrated to our minority community that serving the city can be rewarding I am fully confident he will continue to do the work necessary to represent our legislative district and we wish him well in his new responsibilities he now must deal with Omar our city is a better place to live because of your tenure on the console thank you so [Applause] much good evening I'm Diane barowski I live at 13 Dewey Street here in eastampton and I'm here because um I understand you're going to be reappointing a female new female Park commissioner today that's what I heard today so that's why I'm here because we had a very important meeting this past Monday about putting the uh dog park into ntic park which I'm against and four of the women I understand we're new members uh years ago I thought cuz I'm at the park all the time with my dog I thought oh maybe that's something I'd like to do I don't know how you get qualified or whatever but anyways I understand from Monday's meeting two of the women had a map of the park and my feeling is they don't know the park at all and I understand from talking to somebody that only one of them went through the park twice I don't know how you can be on the park commission and not go through the park or know the situation of the park anyway so they were sitting there with the uh map going through it and like CU they're talking about this by this Pavilion or that Pavilion and yes the three gentlemen I said yay they voted against you know get in the park somewhere else okay but not in the park I just you know I don't know what the qualifications are for being a park commissioner if you're not in the park and know the situation the surroundings of the park so thank you anyways that's my thank you anyone else before I go to the people are participating remote see none Mr Mason thank you president Gomez um I just want to take a moment um to thank you for your service uh to the city um your leadership as a city council person and city council president um has uh really enhanced our city um you you were wonderful to work with always professional and I just wanted to take a moment to wish you well um and I know that you'll serve not only eastampton but your entire District well uh and we're lucky to have you in that position and good luck thank you thank you thank you I think you guys going to make me cry today thank you um anyone else Julie hi Julie from Precinct one um two things um first president Gomez you're going to be greatly missed um I have always found you to be very professional you have demonstrated such great integrity and you have built a cohesive team on the city council and I hope whoever fills your shoes will be able to continue to do that it's a unique characteristic of a leader but it's one of the most important and I really appreciate all that you've done for us and then secondly um I want to talk about the flag but if you're going to bring this up at another time I'd rather wait for another time I just want to know if there would be an opportunity at another meeting to do that yes yes what we doing today for the public and the knowledge of the public uh we have it on their agenda but we're going to move it to a committee it's going to be in properties committee the properties committee going to have probably multiple meetings and then it's coming back to the full Council and the public will uh have their it's going to have their opportunity to to talk to the council yes okay so I'd rather wait then okay so I appreciate that thank you thank you Julie good luck to you and all your endeavors thank you anyone else see none police police big time is closed and the mayor's right here and now is the time to do this rning for the new firefighters I will said uh thank you always to be using the city council um and uh to present the five fathers to the community you know they serve the community and it's always a pleasure for us to have you have you guys here thank you so much actually we're very grateful that uh you allow us to do this um it means a lot to us um I'd be remiss if I didn't take former counselor's wrist uh lead and thank you um Mr President for all your service uh your support of the fire department um for me personally um and I know we'll still count on you 82 or so Miles Away um to continue supporting us um we are here to swear in three of our newest firefighters we're very lucky to have uh all of them two of them um are out of breath I am also that's just nerves uh they are actually coming back from a call uh took their gear off and ran over from the fire station so um just got to give them a little bit of leeway as as they recite the uh the pledge um one of them is Elizabeth uh or Lizzy carolus uh she's coming to us with previous fire and EMS experience um she's already a paramedic uh she's completed the academy recruit uh recruit training for the Massachusetts firefighting Academy while she was there she was the outstanding recruit for her class she won the Richard bangs award so we're very very fortunate to have her with us um also we have Michael radkey he also comes to us with previous fire and EMS experience uh he's a basic EMT uh he will be attending the recruit academy in January uh and then following that up with paramedic school uh and then finally we have Aaron almea uh he comes to us also with some fire and EMS experience he's basic EMT um and he'll be attending the fire academy with Mike uh in January so we'll get them trained up and ready to serve all our great citizens so without further Ado Madam may your show um all right so I have them in specific yeah let's do one more time I all right Aaron you're and if you could repeat after me I state your name I Aon Al do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and partially that I will faithfully and partially discharge and perform discharge and perform the duties the duties incumbent upon incumbent upon me as a firefighter me as a firefighter for the city of East Camp for the city of East and according to and according to the best of my knowledge the best of my knowledge and abilities and abilities agreeably to the rules agreeably to the rules and regulations of and regulations of the Constitution of the United States of America Constitution of the United States of America the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of East C the city of East congratulations [Applause] wasn't was okay that's for you good thanks [Music] okay are you [Music] I I Elizabeth carolus do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially that will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform discharge and perform the duties upon the duties incumbent the duties incumbent upon me upon me as a firefighter of the city of Hampton As A Firefighter for the city of ampton according to the best of my knowledge according to the best of my knowledge and abilities and abilities of agreeably to the rules agreeably to the rules and regulations and regulations of the Constitution of the United States of America of the Constitutions of the United States of America the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of the city of dampton [Applause] congratulations all right m all right you got the Dr I st your name I Michael do solemnly swear swear that I will faithfully and impartially I will Faithfully andar discharge and perform discharge and perform the duties incumbent the duties incumbent upon me upon me as a firefighter for the city of eastampton As A Firefighter for the city of eastampton according to the best of my knowledge according to the best of my knowledge and abilities and abilities agreeably to the rules agreeably to the rules and regulations and regulations of the Constitution of the United States of America of the Constitution of the United States of America the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of eastampton and the City of eastampton [Applause] [Music] did you say thatat congrat thanat thank you for joining us congratulations congratulations a picture conratulations welcome chief [Music] service you guys that's right there all right count three one two three thank you all thank you congratulations than you you guys okay thanks thank you mayor [Music] I will take a motion to open the public uh public hearing I have a motion on a second to open the public hearing any further discussion see none those one in favor any against abstention motion passes cons thank you Mr President um the first one uh that we have tonight is an inter departmental transfer of $ 47,7 43 22 cents uh from the peg access account to the peg access account uh for us on the council I think we all know what this is for the benefit of anyone on the public who's curious It's really just a um a pass through sort of situation uh when uh uh Spectrum when people pay for cable TV from Spectrum uh those franchise fees go to the city the city then moves them over to East Hampton media uh so that uh they can have an operating budget so so this is just something we have to do quarterly uh and it's that's basically there's nothing else we can spend this money on so it is what it does simple um any c have any questions or concerns comments no anyone from the public have any questions comments about this say none all right uh than all right uh the request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation amount requested $ 47,7 4322 to be transferred from Peg access account 7 47,7 4322 to be transferred to Peg AIS account $ 47,7 4322 the amount requested will be used for the following purpose to give approval to spend from the peg Act access uh receipts reserved account uh for cable related purposes consistent with the franchise agreement second I have a a second for inter inter departmental transfer of $ 47,7 43 with 22 for the P access account to the P access account any further discussion for those one in favor any against abstention motion pass thank you celor Riley okay so the next two items that we have uh just for the benefit of anyone just entering this conversation uh we uh every term are tasked with reviewing uh the salaries for elected and stiens for elected and appointed uh positions uh so we did that uh on uh in finance committee over the course of the last year uh we request we um the the finance Committee reported out a uh a increase of the mayoral uh salary uh that was passed at the last meeting and then subsequently vetoed which will be something that we I think are just going to discuss after the public hearing um but during the public hearing uh counselors made or I believe a a counselor made uh recommendations on two other uh positions that the finance committee had made no recommendation on so we couldn't discuss those recommendations tonight but out of deference towards uh the member uh we did want to put those on uh a public hearing and have them have a fair conversation uh so just for whatever it's worth the finance committee did not recommend an increase to either of these salaries uh but since it was a proposed amendment from a member we we're going to discuss them we did meet last week we did not discuss this any further because we felt that we'd already basically discussed the topic to the extent that we were going to um so uh I think uh one so the first one is a uh an increase of the school committee salary to $6,000 and um I don't know do would you like me to do this or could the sponsor uh speak to this or I guess we can however you want do I mean if um well let let's discuss it and then if we will make a motion um the motion I think should be like with no recommendation like you guys did because that was the what you came out with from the committee and a conso can make the amendment of 6,000 and then we vote in the amend it okay great so that's what I've got the the the proposal um that uh councelor Kinski if I'm not mistaken I came up with was uh to increase the uh salary for the six members six elected members of the school committee to be 6,000 and then for the school committee chair to be 6,500 effective January 2nd 2026 again when we're talking about all of this it's important to note we don't raise salaries for sitting people so anything we do or do not do tonight is about whoever wins elections next year um whether or not those people will have the same salary that current elected officials do or a different one so cor any conselor have any comments questions anyone I I do actually right I wanted to make sure that I gave other people the opportunity to speak first um so you know as I've talked about in the uh previous issue of the mayor's salary I'm a firm believer in Pay equity in all instances and I know that we will be talking about the second issue next so without directly addressing it I have a problem with paying our school committee members almost half of what the city council gets paid um I think there can be some philosoph opical arguments about who has more responsibility in terms of oversight of the city but having a Masters in Education and knowing the work that our school committee members do um education is a much more regulated industry than what it is that we do on the city council so I am not comfortable with any dollar amount for the city council and the school committee unless it's the same exact amount um with the additional $500 you know for for chairs that makes sense but um I'm not comfortable with the $6,000 I don't know what the dollar amount is that makes sense but I feel compelled to vote no on this knowing that we're also discussing $10,000 for city councilors um I just I believe that they deserve at least the same amount that we get paid thank you cons yeah I wasn't sure if I was going to say something about this but councilor Ry speaking made made me feel that I just want to say this you know the committee made a choice to not address these positions in large part because these are stiens that people um whether the counselors or or or school committee members receive you know usually on top of another income and and and it's just in a tight financial position it's difficult it's it's also difficult because these the base salaries are so low that increasing it by any amount the the Optics are inherently bad because the percent goes up even when the actual amount being discussed is not great and so if the council makes the decision that we can't afford to raise these for this or the second one like I I understand that and I I respect that I but I do just want to register that I have a certain level of discomfort uh with the disparity that exists between City councilors and school committee uh members in terms of the pay and that's not to say that I think that either of them is necessarily inappropriately high or low that's an entirely different conversation about what is the proper amount to compensate this job you can make a lot of different arguments looking at it from a lot of different perspectives that I might agree with or disagree with what does bother me is the fact that we set them at different levels um and and the reason why it bothers me is because I've had the privilege to get to know some of the school committee members over um over the the time that I've been on the city council and I I just the idea that we work harder um than them is just to me that it's silly um I think we certainly deal with a broader portfolio of issues like that's certainly true but they deal with perhaps the one issue that people feel the most strongly the most intense about I I'll remind you that like you know in this term that these school committee members are currently on there was a point where some of them had police posted up outside their houses because of you know thing Communications that they were getting and and things like that and um that's not something that I don't think has ever happened to any of us it's certainly never happened to me I've never felt unsafe really in any capacity as a city councilor um but people when it comes to schools when it comes to people's kids people have a lot of really strong opinions and rightly so but the these meet the meetings that they have they meet um they they hold their regular meetings those meetings can be very intense those meetings can be very long those meetings can be incredibly emotionally taxing in a way that frankly I think much of our stuff isn't and so if it's I don't know I don't know how to tie that in with the fact that like yes we are in a a tight budget situation and I don't know what the right situation to handle that is but just as we enter into this conversation I just want to voice that I always had a certain level of discomfort with that discrepancy and I would like to see it closed by some means at some point conam Thank you Mr President um I'm actually in full support of the $6,000 raise at and the 6,500 and specifically two years ago and we voted on this I articulated that I thought that they at that time they should have been equal and the argument that the other counselors made what that this was a hierarchy and because we oversaw their budget that we should have a higher basically salary um to and full disclosure I have no intention of supporting the uh the amount that city council is recommending or this motion the next motion is is supporting and that will actually bring up um and and create Equity between both Council and um um and City and the school committee um I think that that's uh Fair it should have been that way this year um unfortunately it was it was not uh as everything that was said I I I believe in Pay Equity I think the important thing to recognize also is that while our uh school committee uh is um uh is uh equally between uh uh men and wom women uh the reality is that most School committees are predominantly women um and I think that that is a discrepancy that um needs to be uh addressed so I am in full support of this knowing that that will actually at this time bring up their salary to that of council I I will not move forward on the other one thank you any other coun coun Smith for clarity we're only talking about the school committee Sal we're going to do that first one yeah okay yeah I would agree um I would agree that the school committee doeses a lot of actual work and that they are doing a lot for lure issues and regulations and I don't have a problem raising their salary but I do have a problem with the other one and so I'll speak to that later but I just wanted to I wanted to acknowledge that we've all seen over the past couple of years um the school committee really be attacked on social media um be um sued by people be really really it's a very difficult position um for a person to be in so I really kind of understand the financial compensation for that position as well as ours but but I think even in these conversations when we're talking that maybe our work is equal then I just don't and that's for the next one so I'll keep that there thank you councelor coun Riley um thank you Mr President so I actually misspoke um and I would like the my previous comments to be stricken from the record and the reason why is I meant to say this in advance and I let my feelings about the topic get in the way but in my professional life I am the vice chair of the board of directors at tapestry Health um and one of our school committee members um is also a board of directors um so for that reason I don't want anybody to take what I said to heart please ignore what I said and that I will be abstaining um from this vote on those grounds full point of informationi I would like to address what Riley just said I I appreciate your full disclosure and you're acknowledging a relationship with someone who is in this in in the situation I would say that that does not prude you from voting on this in every bit of my information and I've checked with the the the Commonwealth on this you're you can abstain from anything you wish however as a conflict of interest there is no conflict of interest in this situation if you vote this year on a salary for the following term after an election so that the person that you know and Share Board of directorship with is not necessarily on the next school they may choose not to run they may love to run who knows but that that's that's why we make our decisions on this matter now and not 6 or eight or 10 months from now when the hats are in the ring and people say oh jeez let's raise the no that's not the game that's not the way this works it is for the public to decide who they want to have to represent them in the next term and then what should that salary be for that entire term thank you for the point of information thank you Kinski and but I just want to remind you that no of our uh lawyers it's always good to communicate with at this commission so just for the uh yes uh thank you Mr President I just wanted to say uh in regards to and I'll I'll speak on the on the second issue when we talk about it um as far as the salary Equity I I do support this as far as as the the raise in the school committee um the M might sound a little counterintuitive I was one of the three that voted against the mayoral salary um due to fiscal responsibility I stated at the time um and and I still adhere to that but I feel as though the cost here compared to what we are going to be gaining by doing it is priceless so I just wanted to voice my support um for the school committee Equity thank you any other councelor c um you know I also support an increase in salary for the school committee I disagree with the notion that the that there's Equity by comparing the city council to the school committee they have different roles within the city and that's directed both by mgl in the charter um and so in terms of equity I'd rather look at how other cities are modeled in terms of how much they pay their they compensate their school committee um I agree too that I think it's been a very tough year for our school committee and a very tough few years especially with the pandemic and I hope we also find a time when things are a lot calmer um and you're not having to teach through um a viral outbreak um but I don't agree that these two bodies um have the same duties and um therefore the compensation should be the same um so um and just to clarify for the record too the current um stien for the school committee is is it 4 4,000 4500 for 42 42 okay all right thank you any other conselor before the public consor question here may I uh I will make this argument on behalf of all of those who are not in the positions that everyone I believe here in this at this table and the school committee table is is and I think everyone would describe their lives is comfortable everyone at this table I believe has the ability to have a reasonable income reasonable benefits reasonable opportunities that just aren't available to everyone in our community I think as long as we have pay Equity pay that if you don't need the job you can take it you could you can run for and you don't need the money because that not important you're comfortable you really really haven't set forth a true situation where folks can come to the table and say yeah I I I I can afford to do what my passion gives me and what I want to do and get paid at least what a laborer would get paid someone had a a a fast food restaurant that's the attempt to raise the salaries as long as we believe that we've made every opportunity to keep things on a on a good oh we're on a good playing field oh we can afford to well yeah we're comfortable and I'll be the first to admit it yes I've been fortunate I think everyone here has and that's really not equity for the community there are people who would like to be here who just can't afford the salary if they Council Gomez I know you had meant made that argument the last time we discussed salaries and you would discuss if you could be a coach or you could do this or you could do that or you could represent the public in city council and you made that very convincingly that if you have to make a choice and you have miles to feed and bills to pay you're going to make the choice and when I see the schools paying offering up $26 an hour 26 and change for bus drivers with vacation sick time personal days with other benefits health insurance life insurance and that's a part-time job why wouldn't somebody do that if they had to make a choice and money was important to them I say if you don't want the increase don't take it give it back to the community I support the measure thank you anyone from the public they want to have a question or something please stay your name and address for the record and you will have 3 minutes thank you Dan R City C former city counselor I apologize 26 Line Street um I've been hearing some things tonight that make me change my opinion so forgive me some of this may not make sense when I'm finished I come before you now to ask you not to approve the stip and increases before you at least not for the council I believe it will damage the reputation of the council and all of you I'm sure you all work hard for the city and that you can rationalize this increase as being necessary given your profound responsibilities but I warn that the citizens will see it differently when I asked a friend what she thought of the $10,000 increase the first word she spoke was greed that will be the perception and you all know the perception is the reality for most when I served I did so out of a desire to give back to the city that helped raise my family I never thought that I wanted to be a counselor to get a paycheck indeed many of our Comm committees the planning board the Board of Public Works the assessors also have regulatory responsibilities but they serve to give the city the benefit of their life experience they are volunteers receiving little or no renumeration more importantly is the message this sense with the proposed increase to both the council and the school committee stiens it will be 44,000 hit to to the budget for the council a 66% increase how can you justify this to our employees our teachers our Public Safety and DPW workers that struggle to negotiate a 3 and 4% increase 44,000 may seem minuscule amount when dealing with a $50 million budget but it is the message that is sent there must be plenty of money so why can't we the employees get a significant raise if this is approved you will make a difficult for our mayor and future Mayors to negotiate budgetary difficulty when it comes to Union contracts saying all of this when I heard what councelor Denham said and others about pay Equity I certainly support now the $6,000 for the uh school committee given what they've been through and all that they do I think it just sends the message that we the council respect their work I do not and hope you won't take the $10,000 into consideration but if you want to raise the 6,000 I certainly support that thank you thank you anyone else caroling you're I come you can hear me yes okay I am Caroline coaching Main Street 143 Main Street and uh thank you to the counselors thank you uh president Gomez for all your service and running great meetings and I am here I didn't have much time to uh do um do the numbers like um uh my fellow neighbor Dan wrist now but yeah I've been talking to neighbors particularly about the 10,000 for the council and people are like that's what's that about I mean I remember early conversations raising things from 4,000 on the council and 2,000 on the school committee you know bumping it up a little by a thousand like that seemed reasonable things seemed low um but now certainly for the council big jumps and even for the school committee I'm not so much questioning the validity of that or the amount of their work which I think is large but there is the question of where is the money going to come from and when I look there's the salaries you can get the the data from the different towns what they're paying there's City counselors what they're paying school committee um and you know these numbers that we're talking about school committee and city council are larger than you know kind of comparable places like I just look at e Long Meadow for one here it's Clos and um similar size just Tad bigger um they pay their school committee like 2,000 their City councilors regular like5 ,000 and they are a wealthier community than we are this is Google I it's a quick look like they're median house C income is more than 100,000 East Hampton is just a little more than 70,000 so where is the money come where will it come from particularly as we may be going into Less Federal funding potential challenges to that so um if we had the money for theity for the school committee you know that could be something to consider um maybe it's not as big a jump we don't know where the money is going to come from and that the city council raising it it would be going from 4,000 at the end of 2022 to 10,000 you know January 26 that's like more than doubling in less than four years so and this is my analysis and I've been talking to my neighbors and they have similar questions so thank you for listening thank you anyone else before back to the consules no any conso I have any final before taking the motion so it's difficult because we're considering one measure before another I I think that they both should be increased I I do not support the $10,000 for the Council um I do agree with the holistic thought um that we have to take into account the total increase and how that affects the budget as we already went down that road in um last meeting and that was met with a veto because of fiscal responsibility um it's not time to discuss the uh section 2-18 the council salary but I would support um a school committee salary of $5,000 with the um obviously the chair at 5,500 and I can discuss what I feel that the council salary should be when we get there will be less than what's listed um on the public hearing but obviously we're not having that deliberation yet so I just wanted to put that out there can you please the motion for writing yes y um any other before take the motion Kinski I feel compelled to address the issue of the Optics it's never a good time and it never has been throughout Council Derby 2004 onward it's never a good time to raise salary and we've seen times where there have been huge cuts and we've always had a council that has been sitting comfortably making the decisions for the city so it's real easy for people who are comfortable to make decisions that well I have a good health insurance there is no health insurance plan offered in this in Northampton there's a health insurance you're you're eligible for health insurance if you're a member of the of of the of the council if you're a member of the school committee you're eligible for health insurance that benefit alone is worth between 7 and $10,000 so when we talk about Equity we must realize we're we're really low on all our salaries and that's why I wanted to get the ball rolling and on this matter I know councelor uh Zar had proposed 10,000 in the last term I thought that was high at the time I intend to make an amendment that's another matter on that matter on on the 10,000 and address to 7500 tonight have to beting but that's matter do I think that the school committee has to be at the same I don't think that that has to be the case do they work hard absolutely believe me if anyone here here knows I know because I lived with it I lived with it and I lived with it through all all the times and my wife still doesn't tell me things that we were going on because it was confidential and that's the way it is so yes where things he but I remember here the discussions about Sanctuary cities I remember the discussions about uh very serious topics over the last six or eight years Council Derby I think you'll I can attest attest to that that this is not like okay we don't have the same kinds of issues we do and there's further responsibilities for counselors anyway I uh wanted it to be known that there are wealthier communities and it's more of the same I think East Long Meadow one comment was that East Long Meadow they get higher incomes well yeah they have higher incomes and so I haven't examine their Council or their school committee but my guess is you have comfortable people on those positions too I'd like to open this up to people who not be as comfortable take one more and going to take them the motion yeah um thank you Mr President I think the important piece of what we're also leaving out of this conversation is that quite frankly East Hampton has a smaller tax base so therefore we we have smaller salaries I think that that that is just a key element and a key uh data point that we are not discussing in this matter and I know we're going to go to a to a vote but other cities have larger salaries whatever because they have a larger tax base um you know in terms of a $5,000 uh increase or $1,000 increase you know what if it's going to be city council at 5,000 then I'm more than happy to make it ,000 for for the school committee as long as it's Equitable but if we're talking about equity and we're talking about um being fair then I support a $6,000 uh increase and and that honestly is a 100% increase uh to what their salary was two years ago if I'm not mistaken so um also I think this has been mentioned um by someone who spoke uh you know our teachers just also went through a negotiation also at 3% I think this is uh generous I think it is an indication that yes times are hard and yes people are making sacrifices but people are also doing this because they want to give back to their Community right and I think that we're also making a a huge assumption in terms of by uh making this High salary it opens up opportunity for other people there are a lot of people in this community who who are also able to do this job um but uh we're making assumptions that various people in this community might be poor um but I think the reason why they're not wanting to be a part of these things is it also uh doesn't reflect an experience that they personally want to be a part of because of the way that how we talk about other people right like I think that's just a reality right I think we're talking in vague terms but I also think that we're we're um um intentionally being uh vague about the lived experiences of of various people in this community so I I think that that 6,000 is fair it's a modest increase although it's double from two years ago and the biggest thing I think we need to be considering here is that tax Bas and we don't know what's coming financially to our city with a new Administration so I I I I support the 6,000 as is um and that's what I'm going to support PE thank you um so I will make a motion that in accordance with the home R Charter chapter 4 section 4- 1e the annual salary of the six elected members of the school committee uh be set at $6,000 per member effective January 2nd 2026 and that the salary of the school committee chair uh be set at $6,500 effective January 2nd 2026 I have Mo second to to change the chatter chapter 2 Section 2-17 school committee salaries any further disc discussion motion to amend uh councelor s um I motion to amend the uh original motion to read uh where the annual salary of the six elective members of the school committee uh to amend that to 5,000 and the salary of the school committee chair shall be 5500 the whole written down I didn't hear in a second so sorry second yeah so we have a motion seconds to amend the original motion to from 6,000 to 5,000 and from 65 6,500 to 5,500 any further discussion see none we're going to vot now for the amend uh Amendment first U for those one in favor I any against I no against any abstention obain exension so let's do roll call County denim this is on the motion to amend this the motion to amend if you say you say yes we'll move it to from 6,000 to 5,000 and no no Salem Derby no Omar Gomez no JP gazinski no Tom Peak no Brad Riley abstain Tammer Smith no JT Terell no Owen Zer yes which fail [Music] um um Let's do let's do the roll call for the um the original motion from 6,000 and 6,500 uh Salem Derby yes Omar Gomez yes JP gazinski yes Tom Peak yes rad Riley abstain Tamar Smith yes JT trell yes Owen Zer no Connie Denham absolutely motion passes cons okay so the next one uh We've sort of already discussed a bit uh in the context of the other one uh but it would be to uh increase the city council salary to 10,000 with the salary of the president of the council going to 10,500 and once again uh just this is would not be for necessarily any of us it would be for whoever is holding office in January of 2026 after the next municipal election M any consors want to make cons Smith I just think it's way too much of an increase when I look at when I was a counselor in the previous terms that I served to now this already feels like a really big jump and I do not feel that I need thousands of more dollars in compensation I just don't understand why all of a sudden this is an emergency to have our salary so high I've never heard a single counselor complain that we are not receiving enough of a salary so I just don't think that that jump is warranted and I don't think we have the funds to do so I just don't I don't think it's a prudent measure at this time thank you Smith coun derby um so when I started when I first ran um in I think we pulled papers in 2003 maybe um I thought it was a volunteer position uh to be a city counselor I mean it was kind of close I think we ended up getting $1,000 a year something I don't it paid for my car insurance and that was really helpful so when I found out that I had my car insurance covered at the time I had three little kids um it did help me um but my intention to become a city counselor was not because I thought I was going to get paid um and I kind of still feel the same way uh I I feel that the work that we do is based more about like our willingness to try to serve our community and not necessarily the need to get compensated for that I think that it you know as I've raised my family and stayed on the council it was helpful as we got small incremental raises to be able to keep doing it so I think that is kind of a an important thing but I think where we are right now um especially now that the school committee will have you know there'll be parody between the council and the school committee I think that that's a good thing um and I don't necessarily feel that we need to give ourselves or the future selves a big race so you know I'm fine with where we are uh and that's just my thoughts cons I just want to say I I was against any raise for counselors in subcommittee and finance and I and I remain against any raise um the council just received a raise that this last term beginning and um I'm sorry but if you're doing this for the money you shouldn't be doing it I'm sorry but I will be voting against the this Council raise c yeah so I have a few thoughts on this and if I start to ramble somebody cut me off um so I'll start I'll get with get to the point I'm not going to vote for this um and I'm not going to vote for I'm I'm not really going to vote for any raise uh to the City Council salaries at this time um but I also think that virtually everything that uh C Kinski said I think there is some Merit to I do think it is true that if you really apply yourself to this job you are probably working a number of hours where your actual compensation from this is well under minimum wage and uh as somebody who is a fan of the idea of people being compensated like I just don't I don't I don't love that and I also think that while most people's decision to run or not run for the city council has very little to do with you know uh uh with the stipend it wasn't something I was again I was not aware of it when I pulled papers um I do think uh that there could potentially be people in our community who would rather do this than an equivalent amount of of work at some say picking up a second job um and that that isn't an option because they will make less than they would working minimum wage like I just want to acknowledge that what councelor Kinski was saying when he um when he put this forward is in my opinion true um there probably are people who don't see this as an option because there's something else they could do that would bring more money and that's a need for them and I do think that the just the it's it is like a for the amount of work that this this can be um and has been at times like it it is a a pretty small amount of money what I would also say though is that if you look at what a lot of our city employees get made you could say the exact same thing you know there's a lot of people in the city that when I learn what their salary is I'm like that's ridiculous there's no way I would do that work for that money but they do it and everyone benefits from it and it sucks it's part of the reality of being a small a small City now I do think that going forward I I proposed this in the meeting and I I'll you know I might if I'm here next term I might propose it again I do think that it might be a smart idea for these bodies to start building in the idea of small like very small like 2% incremental raises over over time because one thing that does happen and has happened before uh is that we don't address this for 10 15 years and then just inflation comes and it comes to a point where okay now you to just sort of catch up with everything that's happened since the last time you wanted to have this conversation you now have to do what in percent terms is a very large raise and the Optics to that coming back to the prer point suck um and so we you we find ourselves in the situation so I do think that you know if you want to avoid that there might be some value in doing that over time um I don't think that right now at the end of the year is the proper time to necessarily get into the Weeds on that and I don't think that anyone that on you know the current count I don't think that what we get paid is is egregious in comparison to what our city employees get paid for their labor like everyone is getting paid less than they deserve um that's just an un fortunate reality of the situation um so I'll be voting no but once again I just I want to say like there's a lot of things that uh councelor Kinski has said that councelor zared has said in favor of increases that I just want to make it clear I don't disagree with those points it just kind of is the situation that it is thank you Mr President so I wonder respond to a few things first when I took this job or I took this I ran for this position I understood that this is not my full-time job right in fact in my full-time job I got a cost of living increase like that's what that job is for me this job is an opportunity for me to give back to my community and I don't Place expectation on on residents and taxpayers of this community to fill perceived loss of income that I might be getting if I did something else in lie of this right this this is my choice to be here like I am choosing to be here because I want to give back to my community also I think that it is um important to recognize that yeah within this city there are positions that people leave because the pay is not what they deem fair and it is low and therefore you have departments like DPW that go without filled positions because people don't want to do that particular work because it doesn't pay enough so what seems to me like a good thing to do would be to say okay let's take this $42,000 that we're wanting to hold for ourselves and shift it towards hey mayor we should put that towards lower paying jobs within this city to make sure that those individuals stay within this um particular uh job there's also opportunities that people are looking for um that would expand the work of the park like this is half of a salary that we are taking for our own benefit for positions that as has already been articulated that we are fine we're okay financially as individuals and so I think it's important to recognize that this money that we are saying is going to be going towards or for these expanded salaries could be used for other things in the city and it would amount to a reduction in services or a reduction in other salaries for other individuals who work within the city who our rle is not that hard it's not that difficult the only thing that we are actually expected to do is go to two City Council meetings and go to two subcommittee meetings anything that you do beyond that is your choice that is your choice to do those things and so yeah I take on working with um president Gomez and uh I know councelor Smith is is also uh open to working us the uh um Municipal Leadership Academy which the application is open if you want to apply for that that would be great but the the the point is is that's nine weeks two hours a week that's a whole additional um committee meeting throughout the course of a year compacted in a short amount of time that's okay that's what I want to do that's how I want to engage with the community like that's my choice and that's why I run is to engage other people in this community not to get money or whatever right I want to be able to give back and and and this is so excessive it's just excessive thank you Riley thank you Mr President um you know as I had said in my comments um for the um previous Amendment my primary concern is ensuring pay Equity um and I feel that the vote that you all took for me brings this uh school committee up to pay Equity with City counselors I know that others disagree with the scope of work and whether or not we should be paid equally that is how I feel um so you know for this specific ordinance I I'm not interested in voting on any increases for city council stiens at all um until we can do both at the same time with the same dollar amount the other thing too that I would like to do because I recognize that the school committee does not get a say in their potential salaries for reelection like we do and I know yes technically we are not voting for our salaries this is for the people that take office in 18 months from now or two years from now the fact of the matter is we had one person on the city council that actually ran against somebody last term so yes in theory we are not voting for our own salary increases but we actually are because we all run on opposed um and I think that's a um an element that needs to be considered um so with respect to the school committee so I I had a conversation with a school Committee Member and I decided that I wanted to use their feedback as my feedback to give them a voice because they don't have a voice at the table right now and I think going forward and this will be after me because this is my last term that we should be looking at increasing school committee salaries and city council Sal uh salaries when the cola increases occur I think that's a fair time for us to consider when we're increasing our salaries and to do it to the degree that all employees are so if it is 2% uh Cola increase then I I would support school committee and city council getting a 2% increase and I know that's we're talking minuscule dollars when when you know $66,000 what 2% is it's only it's a little bit out of time but I think that's fair and I I acknowledge the feedback from that school Committee Member I think that makes sense and I just wanted to honor their opinion because they don't get the opportunity to weigh in so thank you thank you thank you um yeah I mean with respect to what was just said before me I think that part of the problem is that we have the separate Charter driven process for the city council that lies within the city council so I think it is important when we look at other stipended positions to make sure that we do the best job possible to engage them when the process comes around and um we should be forward thinking about when the when whoever the next council is that does this again if they choose to do this in the next term that they should really be engaging and surveying the other committees um and commissions that have stiens as well just to make sure that they're Gathering that information far ahead of time I think that um part of the reason why we're here in the first place as has been noted and as we discussed at the previous deliberations at our last meeting is because we fell far behind on uh really evaluating this process and basically ran into deferred maintenance uh with these stipend and so it becomes very difficult to figure out a what they should be and then B if you decide what they should be exactly how to get there because every every jump seems like a lot and then if you say that you don't want to raise it then by the time you get around to making a good considered effort to raise it again you're so far behind again that that that subsequent jump seems like a lot again so it's it's kind of like this never ending um cycle which at some point we have to figure out how we're going to break it um I think everyone who's here certainly and I think everyone who I've ever known who's who's run and held office here has done so because they want to serve the city and I think that there's a lot of weight uh in terms of what all what all of us do here for the city council and what people do for school committee as we noted before and there is a um there is a duty established upon us that the decisions we make need to then be well informed and to be best informed and so the process of doing so takes time and I think a lot of that is where at least in my mind some of these stiens come in we have to take on knowledge that we possibly didn't have we have to interview people um and yes we have certain base requirements but to really fully do the job I think and fully serve the community we have to spend a substantial amount of time outside of meetings engaging with the public and engaging with our constituents um as I mentioned previously and I can expand on now more um I do feel at this time that that for a variety of reasons that the $10,000 recommendation is probably too high um we probably need to do a study to determine at some point what all these salaries should be and I think that came up again from our deliberations at the last meeting um at the last time that we discussed this as a council there was some kind of back of the napkin uh math that was suggested that if we look at city council salary and we assume that we spend approximately 10 weeks uh 10 hours a week uh at $15 an hour um um then that comes out to approximately $7,800 a year I think that's probably too high in the current context of what we're discussing with financial responsibilities to the city I think $7,500 would be reasonable um I don't get the sense listening to the deliberations here that we'll get there tonight but that's what I at least recommend um and as with the conversation last time I'm just glad that we're all able to give our input and come to these um to have these very enlightening discussions both for the public as as well as to really ground ourselves in terms of what our values are here as elected officials but also recognize the gravity of the job thank you cons Kinski and then the [Music] public one [Music] second um an argument was made that well the people here are the same people running right I say that's right I say I don't think we made the right jump the last time I really do if we had made the jump to councelor zarr's recommendation you might see a change of of Interest I really am afraid that we're going to get welltoo people who don't need to be here and I'll say this counselor Derby you talked about the salary when when we started you know I didn't cash a check money was coming in I built up 10 or 11 checks in my desk draw I'm not doing this for a salary but it was me I was working full-time I had a job I was making a good living at a business when you don't need the money you don't I didn't cash the checks you can ask the city treasurer at the time uh she said please would you get over it and Cat the checks because really messing up the books and I said okay so that's the perspective especially of new people who haven't immersed themselves necessarily in all the nuances of City Council in all the laws in all the legislation in all the state laws the federal laws it becomes a lot of work and then as things times changed and we've had some real contention over the years I saw it and I saw people drop off maybe they wouldn't have dropped off if we offered a fair wage or Fair compensation but they dropped off and not necessarily for for for for for good reasons but this can be a very difficult difficult situation I'll say it some others may may not be able to say it but I'll say it it it it it just can be very contentious what really has exacerbated the situation is the new uh supreme massachusett Supreme Court ruling which says that the public can say anything they want to any one of us any elected official and rightfully so you shouldn't be able to sit back and say and be insulated from the public saying you're a rotten bum you're a creep I think you're so far off that's fair game but you can use any language you want say basically anything but threaten somebody's physical being that's a lot to ask to keep your cool to be respectful and to like the people you're working with I can look around the this table and although we may disagree on a variety of issues I like the people I I work with I know we have a committed group I wish that we all weren't well Todo I would be willing to uh in this climate amend the amount as I stated before I think there should be an increase and I will put that forth I don't know if if the 7800 the 7500 or whatever figure is appropriate but we can discuss that I look forward to what the public has to say let's go to the public first and then we can take the last comment and we have to move on um anyone from the public want to make a question or comments about this please St your name address for the record and Eric I see you I just want to let people know uh people first in person and then people remote um my name is Nathan Marquee I live at 37 Holio Street um thank you Mr President um after looking at the salary increase I think going that much is a bit extreme I believe that maybe something in the middle would be more appropriate I also believe that school committee should be paid the same amount as City councilors they do do quite a bit of a work and if city council is going to be paid a certain amount I strongly believe that school committee should be paid the same amount thank you thank [Music] you hi I'm Lindsay Rothchild of 73 Mount Tom Avenue um listening to your discussion I would just encourage you to maybe think creatively um is there any way in ter to increase Equity to have future counselors that make below a median income to get an additional stien to encourage people to run of all but like when I ran I agree with most of you when I ran I didn't even know there was a stien either I was kind of like oh it was just like an added extra but I do I do feel the point that um councelor Kinski is making that for some people it is that it becomes a place where people of privilege can afford the time to sit because don't need to be making extra money with an extra job but it would be nice to so if you could think creatively maybe and not just just a uniform raise I encourage that thank you thank you [Music] Eric Eric all right I will take the last comment from the conselor one more comment for every conselor who want to decide to talk I think c d want to say something yeah I just wanted to speak briefly to councelor Riley's Point um you know 99% of incumbents who run in Massachusetts are re-elected right and so I think that if people want to have a more diverse um Council you know they should step away um because the reality is the likelihood is you're going to be the benefactor of this stien this salary um and I think the reality is is I think more people leave this Council not because of the salary but because of the way that they're treated and I think that that's just the reality of this Council um and so [Music] again we do this for a variety of different reasons but this is way too excessive I think there's a lot of unknown financial situation that we're going to be dealing with and I I think that part of how we set our salaries is based on what the tax base of this community is because if our tax base doesn't go up and we increase our salary that means less funding goes to programs goes to Residents Etc and and we are supposed to be good stewards of um of the budget which honestly is just limited so I support not having an increase to the Sal PR brief very brief I'm just not sure how we maintain the same salary and get to where we really should be and I think everyone would agree that I don't I don't know how anyone does 10 hours a week but just suppose you could do 10 hours I do 15 hours a week on average for city council uh but let's say someone did 10 and we came up with the did did the math the napkin math and came up with 7,800 we really should be headed there and should we have the school committee with us at the same point I think we should be headed there to stop it now and to say no let's not do any increase I think is a mistake I think we we should maybe it makes sense to to to to do we move from four to six Now we move from 6 to 7 I I would move to rec to uh have the salary be 7,000 you before uh gonzal Smith Eric hi hi uh president Gomez my apologies for uh the technical issues I had uh thank you for recognizing me uh I just want to take a moment to recognize councelor Denim and to applaud them for their uh passionate uh statement on behalf of the people who work for the city of eastampton we historically have underpaid our city employees so drastically and um I deeply value the work that all of you do as city councilors as well as uh the elected officials on the school committee however like we have to we we can't just underpay the people who go to work you know come home every day with a sore back and dirt on their shirts while we give each other um raises you know uh I I I deep I'm deeply appreciative of councelor denim's statements um I agree with Council Drell with his assessment that you know if if you're in this for the money then that's uh that's not why you should be in it you know I'm uh a very proud member of the Parks Recreation Commission uh an unpaid position that I'm deeply passionate about and I'm very appreciative that all of you are deeply passionate about our city and also I agree with Council Peak that unpaid labor sucks it does it sucks however um we all as a city I believe need to make sure that the the the people who work for us are are paid not just a living wage but more than a living wage before we we give uh elected officials phrases thank you I appreciate your time all of you and happy holidays thank you consor Smith so I guess the other thing that I want to say is that one thing that I've really noticed um this term in comparison to other terms that I've served is there's a certain competitiveness for productivity there's a certain desire um for the council to tell everybody how much they are working how much more they are working and compare themselves to other counselors and this competitiveness is toxic I've seen it repeatedly I've seen it um this entire term and I think part of the argument here is is also rooted in that that I am personally doing a lot more and therefore I should be and the rest of you should be um rewarded for it and I just think that we all really need to be mindful of that that I agree this is an elected position and quite frankly I could sit here and do absolutely nothing do no due diligence and just give my vote every time it's up to my constituents to decide whether or not that is appropriate or whether I'm not doing a good job but to be told repeatedly by other counselors that they are doing a lot more than anybody else including me just rubs me the wrong way and I feel like this salary increase also is is part of that it it's bringing to life this this supposed inequity among how much each of us individually are doing as counselors and I do not think you can force that work from counselors as fellow counselors I think that is something that is between the counselor and their constituents and I just strongly feel that way this is an elected position not a salaried position in the way that we would look at other um positions within the city and our responsibility lies with our constituents not with proving to other counselors are worth on the council and I feel that that's a very big backstory of this particular salary increase and I just want to name it and put it out there thank you con okay uh I move that in accordance with the home Rule Charter Article 2 Section 2-4a the annual salary of the city councilors shall be $10,000 per member effective January 2nd 2026 the salary of the president of the council shall be $10,500 effective January 2nd 2026 second to amend the chapter 2 section-8 the city council salary any further discussion I just want to make a CL I just want to make a clarification for the public um the the Council the council in regard to um employee salaries in the city the only role that we're able to have there is to approve the budget and when it comes before us to either approve changes in the pay plan or pay plan classification I just think that's important because I think if we had the opportunity to if we had if we were empowered somehow by Charter to do it otherwise I'm sure we would so I just want the public to know that in regard to some of the conversations over here any for the discussion Kinski I would add to councelor zarr's point that the only budgetary Power we really have is to about to lower the uh budgeted amount we do not have the CH the opportunity to raise uh the amount so I agree I would be looking for additional funds for employees if that were something that we had the power to do we do not uh denim I think the comments related to employees salaries is an acknowledgement of the privilege that we have right and so I I I think that if we're not acknowledging that we can't raise salaries and people are struggling and not making the living wage that they could it is incumbent upon us to be in solidarity with that instead of just saying well you know what I do a lot I'm going to give myself a raise I just I don't think that that's how Municipal governance works I also don't think from a just being a human being I don't think that that's how we should think about this work I'm going to take a roll call Barbara Omar Gomez um no because I want the same salary okay yeah so this is going from yes if you say yes we are we increasing to 10,000 if we say no it's going to stay the same I move to amend the amount from 10,000 to 7,000 second we have uh an amendment from uh from 10,000 to 7,000 and just everybody 7,000 or 7, 7500 7,75 7500 council president yeah um any further discussion for the amendment no uh we're voting just to for the amendment roll call Omar Gomez no JP gazinski yes Tom Peak uh yes for the amendment Brad Riley no Tamara Smith no JT Terell no Owen zarett yes Connie Denham no Salem Derby no two watch fails six to three yep uh now we're going to vote for the um motion for the 10,000 Barra JP kazinski no Tom Peak no Brad Riley no Tamara Smith no JT Terell no Owen Zera no County denim no Salem Derby no Omar Gomez no motion fails I will take a motion to close public hearing so mov second I have a motion a second to close public hearing any public discussion seeing none those on in favor any against abstention motion passes um we have a presentation for the affordable and Fair Housing Partnership please uh stay in your name and address for the record and give us a presentation all right let me just plug in here [Music] I think we'll be all right let's do that we be easier for the public all right thank you counselors um for your time this evening a lot of you may know me already but my name is k jrog mcade I'm a resident at 8 Jones Drive um and it's my privilege to present to you the work that the eastampton house uh or affordable and Fair Housing Partnership has been working on over the past year um I've had the privilege of leading this report so I'm excited to share it with you um and this is just a 10-minute overview the full report is nearly 50 pages and I'm hope has been delivered to you guys to read um and at the end I'll take questions if that's allowed or you can um forward your questions to email so first of all um I think we can all agree that housing has gotten far too expensive in East Hampton um recent sales in town show us what the housing market is starting to look like this is a poll from Zillow some of our top uh some of the top end of the market over the past several months I also don't think it should be uh controversial that housing should be affordable for all residents um so data is showing that 48% of renters and 48 or 40% of homeowners in East Hampton are considered moderately or severely cost burdened so that's spending more than 30% of their income or 50% of their income on housing respectively um this has the effect of pushing existing longtime East eastampton residents out so you can see on these graphs at the top that's the renter cost burden the Orange is the 30% the red is people paying 50% um and then on the bottom you can see the owners uh so some of this can be attributed to National Trends uh the cost of construction materials has skyrocketed um Etc but as you'll see in the report and in this presentation much of the issue is driven by choices made at the local level um and I and the affordable and Fair Housing Partnership strongly believe that we can and should make different choices so how did we get here um you can see here is an eastampton zoning map um this is the current zones that we have set up um I think a good example uh for the brief presentation we have here is to look at the R40 District um I'll direct you to look at sort of the bottom wedge of the map where it's yellow and then where it's overlaid in um like cross-hatching that where it says R40 um where the plan's neighborhood is most people will know it um our current zoning ordinance sets large single family lots as the standard creating requirements that classify most of these existing neighborhoods as non-conforming so you can see at the top here is our um table of area requirements uh listing the required lot area is 40,000 ft the front Ed 120 ft um and the setbacks for the side and and rear um so you can see in the picture here from more and drive in the planes uh those neighborhoods don't meet that current zoning um and this is born out in the data so in the bottom right you can see um a histogram made um from pulling uh Mass GIS parcel data um and you can see the red line there shows where the requirement is and all of those homes on the left are residential lots um non- vacant currently in the R40 District that fall um below that requirement so uh an overwhelming 88% of non vacant residential par Parcels um in the R40 District fall below the required lot size um and approximately 65% are less than a half of the requirement um so this creates a lot of barriers so any modifications to pre-existing non-conforming uh homes have to go before the zpa or zba which is a complex legal process um it's timec consuming it sometimes require legal representation it creates big barriers um to people trying to modify their homes to fit their changing families um moreover newer homes are required to then be built on larger Lots um creating the incentive for larger more expensive homes to cover the costs to still make a profit for developers so we can see this um in real time or over the past several years you can see on the bottom here on uh on Holly Circle which is also in the R40 District those homes are conforming to um these new requirements um and thus are significantly larger and more expensive than the older homes on the top left um and to put this into another perspective you can see the picture on the right there that shows what their required lot size looks like overlaid on top of an existing neighborhood um so I would say well I'll say these dimensional requirements not only limit more diverse housing options smaller homes on smaller Lots like you'll see in the existing neighborhoods um but they also restrict neighborhood scale multif family development like duplexes and duplex conversions um by restricting restricting them outright or requiring even more increased area requirements Beyond what's reasonable um so the question that the affordable and Fair Housing Partnership wants to ask is is this the market we want to Foster in the community we want to create into the future if nothing changes we will only see continued Rising costs and more and more eastampton residents priced out from the community they they call home we're talking about aging residents on fixed incomes um who have lived here for decades um we're talking about young young families or young people who grew up here and want to be able to afford and buy a home um and raise a family our current policies are restricting the housing Supply and contributing to this rapid rise as I said um and then we're also reinforcing uh a really damaging car dependent development pattern so I'll just mention this briefly um with bigger Lots with suburban sprawl you have longer trips um more car emissions so in fact the east climate action plan and the analysis done by Wesson and Samson um found that a whopping 38% of our greenhouse gas emissions are coming from private gasoline vehicles um so addressing car dependence is one of the top strategies that we can take as a city to address our environmental footprint um we're a designated climate leadership community and we can set a better example and we should um this is identified in uh the climate action plan as well Municipal action 10 uh clearly states uh that the city should revise review and revise existing zoning and policies to better enable clim climate friendly and supportive zoning so what can we do that's what the East Hampton affordable and Fair Housing Partnership has been working on for the past year um in response to these issues and in alignment with the goals defined in the housing production plan and in the climate action plan um the affordable and Fair Housing Partnership has worked over the past year to produce a comprehensive zoning recommendations report outlining a path forward for a more affordable walkable and sustainable Community the recommendations are designed to support a greater range of housing choices reduce car dependency and ensure eastampton remains a welcoming Community for people of all incomes in life stages I think we can all agree on that um the goals that informed this work um were incremental incremental upzoning and infill development that's respons responsive to community concerns um removing barriers to affordable housing um increasing freedom of land use for homeowners and and families that want to modify their homes um and cl climate change mitigation and adaptation um and then these are some of the highlights of the recommendations detailed in the report there are numerous um but these are just some of the the main ones so that involves reducing dimensional requirements such as lot size setback and brage requirements to reflect the density of existing neighborhoods or even allow for slightly increased density uh increasing flexibility of land use to allow duplexes by right in all residential zones um and subject to the same area requirements as single families um and then also allowing neighborhood scale retail in residential zones to reduce car dependency and walkability or increase walkability and then also removing redundant barriers to affordable housing such as parking minimum requirements um and per building unit caps which are already sort of made redundant by other restrictions on building form and size um and there are another a number of other recommendations made that are mainly housekeeping language updates um and updating to compliance with new state laws that you'll see in the report um but I'll say the recommendation fully outlined in in this report are a bold but PR pragmatic Vision to encourage more housing options lower costs and ensure that our neighborhoods develop in a way that reflects East Hampton's values of affordability walkability and sustainability our zoning needs to reflect our current housing needs and the values of the community we want to be in the future not just the policy priorities from 50 years ago that created the current requirements for financially and ecologically unsustainable suburban sprawl this proposal is designed to spark meaningful discussion about much needed local ordinance change and we welcome additional ideas and look forward uh to collaborating with the city council and the planning board to F further strengthen um these uh proposals um and work toward the shared goal of a thriving eastampton Community um and then I have my email there that you can direct questions to I'm also willing to take questions now um but I want to be respectful of your time thank you we're going to do we are not doing questions today because we have it on the in our package so what we're going to do is at the end of the agenda we're going to send it to the committee um we encourage you to show up to those meetings um I pretty sure the chairperson of the committee will invite you and invite the committee to the partnership um to participate and the process and then we're going to have discussion there and the public will be uh able to participate in those discussions too uh I don't have a question I just want to thank the committee for the presentation great thank work thank you guys thank you um communication for elected officials we'll start with the Ry um let me get some water really quick thank you Mr President so recently in my full-time job I was on a research assignment that was looking at the commercial determinants of Health which is when products are designed intentionally or unintentionally that cause Health complications for specific populations one such case study by Dr Rebecca vazo of Melbourne Australia identified positive correlations between women's mortality from major cardiac uh episodes and the lack of female mannequins in CPR First Response certification courses as I'm sure all of you may recall we've only ever been trained on adult males and children's bodies the glaring issue is that a person's breasts must be accounted for when doing chest compressions or using defibrillators research shows that citizens who were First Responders did not know what to do or performed First Response procedures incorrectly due to a lack of proper training and CPR First Response certification courses so with the inclusion of councilors denim and Smith and with support from our fifth to eth grade health teacher an tally I reached out to Chief Norris to discuss the possibility of purchasing female mannequins and to specifically address women's bodies in CPR First Response certifications that take place at the public safety complex I'm happy to share that our fire department is collaborating with Community 911 in Turner Falls which provided us with the links necessary to make these purchases once the mannequins arrive the fire department will conduct a training with the trainers to ensure that our curriculum going forward reflects the inclusion of all all bodies if these materials arrive in time our fire department will be teaching the new curriculum for the CPR classes being held on January 6th and January 8th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. so I with that being said I wanted to extend my gratitude to Chief Norris and the entire fire department for their willingness to recognize a systemic problem and to find a rapid solution women in our community will have greater odds of surviving cardiac events because of this work so thank you Chief Norris thank you C uh thank you Mr President um I just want to recognize um and thank uh the friends of the East Hampton dog park um The Parks and Rec commission uh former planners current members of the planning department other um stakeholders um for voting to bring a dog park to nuk park um I remember sitting in conference room B in the basement about 6 years ago with uh members of the police department who informed us about a Stanton grant that could be used to fund a dog park um uh director Mason and another commissioner at the time as well as planner bag um and I know that uh councilors Kinski and Peak remember some of the conversations uh that we had in property committee uh back during my first term um about this um as well as some of the secuest paths um kind of chasing our tals so to speak uh to make this a reality um we've gone through multiple iterations of Park commissions we've gone through multiple iterations of the council and it's good to see both the persistence uh the perseverance and the advocacy to make these typ of things happen I think it's a good lesson um in all of those as well as the fact that um government does move slowly um and certain things happen at the right time um I want to thank councelor Denham um who I know has been um since their first term um very involved in this measure as well and I think it's always a good example of that we do our best work uh together um and that the more voices uh that were lent to this conversation I think is what pushed this forward so um it's just a vote they've approved a site um which I think could be found in many places I'm sure this will be in the media soon um we as a council probably have to think soon about how to support funding for that um and again as a city working together to make this a reality um but I just wanted to thank the people historically and acutely who made this happen and again significantly the Joan CT's and the entire Friends of the East Hampton dog park for all of their work to keep pushing forward um keep barking up the right trees um and again the Parks Commission for um seeing the vision of a park in nuk park and voting in the affirmative so thank you and thank you again to everyone who supported this thank you celor C thank you Mr President uh again just want to remind folks um that we're still collecting last couple days for those who want to participate in the municipal Leadership Academy it's a great opportunity um Chief Norris participated in that all the department heads participate in that um it's a great opportunity for residents to learn about departments um learn about budgets learn about the work get tours of the various facilities um and um you know have a have a clearer and better understanding of the work that the employees of the city are doing for you um and so that application can be found on the city website if you just go to the city website and you go into the search bar and you search mun IAL Leadership Academy it'll take you to the description of information about it and uh and and an and an application that you can fill out you can either email me that application uh but best if you turn it into uh City Clerk or mayor's office uh and we will um we will uh get that but great opportunity to to learn about um the city and want to thank uh councelor or president Gomez and uh councelor counselor Smith um for working on uh with me on that um and um president Gomez I said president Gomez but uh I should say representative elect um uh who will be joining us for that so looking forward to that opportunity to to see how U Municipal uh government actually also connects uh at the state level so um very exciting and I hope people take advantage of this thank you Mr President thank you Kinski I wanted to extend my congratulations to the counselors involved in getting the municipal Leadership Academy really moving I think it's a great way for Citizens for residents of the city to find out more about the community about the specifics of government it is a great fabulous learning experience I encourage your participation thank you and I wanted to acknowledge appreciate just how important that is to our community for councilor zarr's comments I wanted to say ditto to everything about the dog park I'm sure counselor Derby who was there at that meeting it's been a long haul I hate to say it but it ain't over we still have work to be done and we need to be able to stay focused and ready to move on this we the the community still needs ways of making all this come together and work and that's now our task to help with so congratulations to everyone who's worked so hard I say keep pushing thank you councelor um now communication from the President and Vice President we I did receive an email from the mayor after the city council after the last city council meeting the city council vote to increase the salary mayor for the next term um as as a part of the ordinance the mayor have to to approve or disapprove um mayor LEL disapprove it so she and today we're going to review it um the Mr Vice President Derby is going to read the reasons why um maor Lael veto the ordinance and then um if the counil decide we're going to vote to override the video and so we did receive an email uh to president Gomez uh the increase as proposed to the by the city council are inconsistent the city's fiscal goals and best practices for compensation uh with gratitude mayor Nicole Chapelle um so we did receive that written explanation and at the same time at the same day um the mayor sent an email to our um Council Clerk and to the city clerk notifying the CH Vito the ordinance um I will ask Will of the conso is to vote to override The veto so I will take a moment motion if that will be the Willing of the the counil C vice president Derby thank you Mr President um so this is a little bit difficult for me um as I presided over the last meeting uh I found myself in a a situation where I was feeling a lot of emotion uh and that emotion carried with me since that last meeting and I felt compelled to write a statement um that kind of talks about some of the procedure that happened that night um and I think that i' would like to read that if it's at your um to frame this discussion good thank you Mr President uh i' like to express my profound disappointment and concern regarding comments made at our last December 4th city council meeting about raising the mayor salary um on 124 2024 um the statement which happens at 3550 on the East Hampton media video uh stated that uh a counselor stated that we have not tried to pay our current mayor in the middle of her term more money because she is a woman and Then followed that assertion that because men have expressed interest in being mayor we want to raise the salary $3,000 to me this is deeply troubling while I appreciate the acknowledgement of the very real and pervasive issue of gender-based pay inequity I must take strong exception to the implication that I or others on the council would support or condone such discrimination the council's remarks insinuate that gender bias has influenced the decision not to adjust the mayor's salary sooner which has never been done before at least at least not in my 20 years and that raising it now is somehow a corrective measure for future male candidates this logic seems let me be clear I would never under any circumstances think to pay a woman less for doing the same work as a man to do so would not only be discriminatory but also fundamentally against the values I hold dear discrim discrimination of any kind is wrong I believe this to the very core of my being and I was also part of the the group that wrote the uh anti-discrimination resolution that we passed multip times at this Council my personal my personal experiences bear witness to these values I was raised in a household where my mother was the bread winner and my my father was a stay-home parent this Dynamic instilled in me a deep respect for women's competence strength and Leadership throughout my life I've been fortunate to have had extraordinary women as role models and mentors who shape my character and professional ethos working with these women inspired and guided me strong and powerful women have influenced my education my career and my personal growth and I'm forever grateful to their contributions to hear a counselor a knowledge and name gender bias where none exists is both insulting and counterproductive acknowledging and naming systemic inequities is a crucial step in addressing real issues but doing so without evidence or justification diminishes the importance of such actions it creates division undermines trust and detracts from the legitimate work of dismantling actual discrimination I firmly believe that raising the mayor salary should be based on Fair and objective considerations such as the scope of responsibilities the need to attract qualified candidates and alignment with comparable positions in other municipalities gender should have no bearing on this decision whatsoever whether for the current mayor or for future candidates as a community must commit to addressing inequities where they truly exist but we must also guard against unfounded assertions that so distrust and undermine our shared values I urge all members of this Council to focus on fostering genuine equity and fairness without resorting to divisive rhetoric thank you Mr Vice President also as a vice president communication um I just want to remind everybody that we are um going to vote to over override the you say yes the motion the path of the last meeting stands if we say no the STS okay I I would take a motion PE one point uh here I I just this is my second time dealing with a veto in four terms so if this is a silly question then I I do apologize uh I guess where I'm having a little bit of of uh of a challenge is that like uh the mayor is saying that the that the salary is not in keeping with sort of the I'm blanking on the exact wording that you used but the you know the sort of city targets around compensation um which is interest which is like that I don't know what those are so uh and I guess what I'm wondering is if there was a difference number that were in line with that I would be open to looking into that but the I guess I feel like we're now in a situation like I I'd be okay on walking back this the salary increase to a lower number if that lower number was in fact in line with what the city sort of Citywide policies which I've they may be available to me I'm not aware of where they are and they they were never uh made available during this deliberation um despite the fact that there are always folks from the mayor's team there and so that's I guess what I'm a little bit nervous of is that we're like say that we vote I I stand by the numbers as appropriate but say that we vote for this and it fails and so the mayor's override uh stands uh then then the whoever the next mayor is will be coming in without any increase so I would be amendable to a compromise if there was number that the mayor would support but I'm not a I just don't know where we are on that and I don't know how to navigate that in this moment okay that that's a great question uh that's a great concern and let me guide guide you after I talk to the city solic city solicitor uh it's a few things when someone make a motion tonight we going we only going to vote for The veto that's it the only way that we can do something is suspending the rules because we have rules about new items at the council and we already vote as a council we already vote and we create an ordinance that we send to the mayor mhm so that um that is out of the committee that's out of the counil right so that will be a new item because this is going to be a new item these are new numbers have to go back to the to the mayor my understanding after talking to the mayor is the mayor is going to be any increase to the to the mayor's Sal okay I just want to throw that there too um this that was part of the discussion between the ccil president and the mayor to see there was another possibility there if we change the the numbers the mayor decide uh it is it the mayor decision is going to to be to any increase to the mayor's position uh being saying that I I again I'm going to repeat it one more time before takeing the motion the motion tonight is to override The veto to overwrite The veto they need six votes for the full Cil if we don't have six votes the v stands and again if we want to create a new ordinance they have a process in our rules has to go to a committee the committee have to discuss it go back to the council and we have to send it back to the mayor at least we suspend rules and when we we can take that measure tonight without any input for the public right and I think that's what the process it we set the process in rules that's what we're going to do tonight the C decid to to suspend the rules against I want to give you a heads up then you already said that she's going to be everything going to increase the any question any any clarification question about the processin [Music] if if we vote to let's say the there is enough votes to sustain the the to sustain the over veto and in the measures dead the salary Remains the Same yep for the next five year for you for the four years year one year from now to five years from now and that's the salary that that we live with the mayor's position is she's going to veto anything we do anyway if you have relayed correctly and I believe every word you say uh that and I see the acknowledgement over there nice to see thank you mayor uh I'm not sure we we have the time do do we have to would we have to we have to do it before December 31st in the action we suspend what rule suspend the rule is just to for the introduce a new item sure what about what about a public hearing we it has to be before December 31st and then the public hearing would have to occur before December 31st is that correct because the advertise the public hearing that we have to advertise the public hearing because it's a it's a new ordinance right so I I just wanted to be sure we that was in the game and we knew what the process was is is is not enough we don't have enough and we if we don't have enough time to do both then that answers the question for us just one or the other yes uh so it's one or about the process not about process that was my statement too was that the time frame is is is limited yeah I will take someone have to make a motion may I can may I make a clarification for the public though could we just let the public know what the the salary then for the mayor will be in someone have the numbers for the next term yes the same way that is if the motion fails at 90,000 it will stay at ,000 for 5 years we need a motion to override The veto I'll make a I'll move I move that we override the mayor's veto on the item second I have a motion and a second to overwrite the video again the yes is to overwrite it the the name it uh is they basically to agree with the video of the mayor I'm going to take do a roll call yeah sorry uh can you have any question about the process no I it's not about the process it's about the consequence okay and I just before I voted I wanted to be sure since there isn't time to republish and get a different program a different amount wow we're stuck with at the same salary for four five years that that that's Weighing on on me as as an issue so just wanted to be sure I was clear and we'll make a decision thank you celor yeah did we ever get clarification on because I know at our last meeting it was talked about um um raising a salary at a different time did we get clarification that it has to be the your it does have to be so you can't give any sort of even if it's like premeditated months in advance or even before the election it it wouldn't be allowed okay I just wanted to make sure that that was known okay any I'll be very brief um in addition to the two conversations that we had earlier today I firmly believe in Pay equity and the number that we came up with was uh comparable to the peers of the future mayor I will not pretend to understand the motives behind this veto um the the mayor has vetoed things that philosophically seem absolutely Bonkers but I am in uh favor of pay equity and I'm going to vote in favor of this because it's the right thing to do uh Barbara again sorry you want to say something is that yes please I just wanted to Echo I with I think we're just in a tough position I I agree with councelor Peak that were we able to somehow go back and find a number that was more agreeable to the council even if there was a um a cloud of a veto hanging over it if we could have come to an agreement that uh could could bring a super majority um we don't have that option right now and I feel that uh to the point of the councilor comment prior to me that I just don't feel that that this the pay for the next four years of the next counselor's term would be fair and Equitable based on the information that was in front of me so I feel like I'm in a bind um so I just wanted to say that thank you conselor Barbara sorry before sorry Barbara I just want to remind again to the conselor that yes is the voo and the know is basically to agree with me uh Barbara Tom Peak hi Brad Riley yes Tamar Smith no JT Terell no Owen zarett yes Connie denim nope Salem Derby I Omar Gomez no JP hi me St may your communication thank you president um uh just a couple of uh quick things um one I'd like to introduce to the council and uh public our new planner um Allison Manuel I don't know if you want to come up and say hello quickly but this is a a position we are extremely lucky to have such a strong candidate and she's already hit the ground running yes thank you so this is actually my first week so day three here lot to learn I'm very excited though to be a part of the uh the team in City Hall and I I've had nothing but wonderful interactions with everyone and it's just so reassuring um you know it's hard to start a new job no matter what it is but it's it's been a great 3 days I've really enjoyed listening to all the thoughtful conversations tonight um and yeah I'm I'm just I'm grateful to be here uh and looking forward to working with you all more in the future wel thank welcome congratulations excellent um okay the um uh also the firefighters that were sworn in earlier uh tonight um deputy chief Benson meant to uh mentioned they are only possible because of Chief Norris's leadership on getting a second second safer grant that allows us to bring on those firefighters actually with 100% cost taken care of which was even more than the first one um I um nothing the other um I'll submit the letter just given the time uh I won't read it but um the city along with uh Mass retirees has taken a small a a strong uh position urging uh Senator Schumer to uh vote on the Social Security Fairness Act um before January 20th this is very important to the city of East Hampton as it closes a lot of loopholes especially for M Municipal Employees to uh gain but also retain uh retirement benefits and has a fiscal impact on our own Retirement Board um again I'll I'll pass the letter along um along with those who have uh copied uh just for the record Senator Warren Senator Mary and Congressman Neil have also added onto this advocacy effort and the house has already passed um this measure um that are really focusing on public servants and and solidifying their their benefits so they can um depend on them uh lastly uh I have been known to tear up at this Podium um not going to do it uh tonight in saying uh I don't know transitional goodbye hello uh instead I will bring up Cindy Mika for some words well good evening everyone my name is Cindy moika I live at 14 clar Avenue here in E Hampton I am the half of the city council president Mar gz and as the mayor started so I would like to say some words since today is the last meeting that city council Omar gz is presiding today so I would like to begin my speech with a quote by a writer I greatly admire Eddie s gloud Jr tell the story make it real for those who refuse to believe that such a thing can happen has happened and is happening here this quote resonate deeply with me because it captures the essence of how and why we're here today in the beginning many doubted that it was possible for someone like you someone with an accent from a humble background to become a member of the city council yet you proved them wrong you made it real you shatter expectations when you become the first Latino elector to the eastampton city council but you didn't stop there you earned the respect of your peers and the trust of the community which led you to your election as a council presidents and now you're breaking barriers once again becoming the first Latino elected to represent the second Hampshire District this story is not just a story of identity or labels like diversity equity and inclusion hires as some might ruly say it is so much more than that your journey is a testament to dedication consistency and Humanity it's about demonstrating that everyone regardless of who where they come from deserve a fair chance to reach their dreams you have shown us that it's possible to turn dreams into reality not just for yourself but for those who you inspire thank you for showing us that these achievements are not possibly but also transformative together we can continue to make history and bring out real change as I close I want to leave you with another powerful reminder this time from the words of James Balwin he who finds no way to rest cannot long survive the battle your journey has been one of Relentless dedication courage and hard work but even in the strongest amount of us must take time to rest to recharge and to reflect the battles we fight whether for representation Justice or opportunity are not just Sprint for marathons it is in those moments of rest that we find Clarity strength and the resolve to press forward let us all remember that self-care is is not a sign of weakness but a Strate a strategy for Endurance by balancing action with rest we not only survive the battles ahead but emerge stronger wiser and ready to keep pushing for the change we envision thank you for your leadership your perseverence and your example together we can continue to fight and ensure that we all find the strength and endure and drive thank you have a good night [Applause] mayor does that conclude your report it does thank you thank you uh and we've uh to council Communications announc committee reports Finance Council Peete thank you Mr President uh we met uh last week we uh and uh in addition to the things that were on the public hearings uh we discussed uh the Retirement Board request to increase the colab base to 2,000 by $2,000 to $18 ,000 um I did have a does this require a public hearing it does not then okay cool let's do it um so yeah basically uh this only comes up every once in a while so for some people this might be the first time they're hearing this or for people like me uh they might just have a little bit of a fuzzy memory of how this works but um the uh for people who uh retirees uh they only receive colas on cost of living adjustments on uh the money they receive up to a certain level uh right now that level is $116,000 um they want the city uh is looking to raise it to1 18,00 000 uh which will provide a bit of uh extra uh income uh to help our retirees uh handle inflation uh there were questions about uh how uh this program would be uh sort of the fiscal impacts of it and uh essentially the deal is that we would be doing this in addition to um slightly decreasing our annual uh our annual contribution to uh to the fund uh so that it's not it actually is the city saves a little bit of money and the uh retirees get a little bit of money of course that doesn't mean that it'll take us a little bit longer to fully fund uh the retirement program but our auditor and uh Treasurer feel and and the Retirement Board all feel confident that we are in a in a place where we can afford to to do this and that it'll be okay um and uh I we were all convinced by their uh their assurances so uh the committee voted 3 to zero to recommend this uh change any counil have any questions Mr President uh cons kiski each time I hear this no matter how many times I I I hear the same story about the cola the cost of living adjustment based on $113,000 it was I think at one time for the longest time 10,000 $116,000 if you retired your salary was $60,000 you work for the city or a municipality anywhere all this time you're expecting that you're going to be treated fa I think it's totally unfair to be treated and say that your cost of living adjustment will be based on this poultry figure so I can't see how anyone would vote against it I would ask ask uh my new state representative elect to look into this matter and at least give communities the option so that they could study the matter for each community and come to a reasonable figure because 16 or $188,000 is totally unreasonable any other counselor um is anyone from the Retirement Board they want to add something quick yes Mr President MH good evening everyone thank you for hearing us I'm the chairman presly of the Retirement Board and I just want to give you some figures it won't take much of your time up um 38% of our 198 retirees uh make $188,000 or less a year uh as you know we are number three in western Mass our Retirement Board there are others that are fully funded the other in the state and one in this mue is fully funded but we are doing very well I have report here from Prim our investment we're with the state investment we're almost uh $7 million as of uh October 31st we don't have November's data yet um so we're doing very well we had a $12 million year in 2020 if you remember I came in front of you in 2020 by Zoom we were under the pandemic restrictions then and we spoke by zoom and you and I appreciate your support you you supported us then and said very nice things about us which I appreciate and uh one other thing uh you talked about social security before our pensions we only get 40% of what we're eligible for Social Security that's another reason so somebody make 18,000 from the city and they they're eligible for Social Security they only get 40% of what they're eligible I didn't do that under the windfall tax there's seven states that have that and uh it's going to average for somebody making the max of $1 18,000 be only $540 a year but there are people that are under that that'll make they will not make $540 a year more they'll make less so I appreciate comments from uh councilor kazinski and any questions I will answer if you have for uh I know that Hal's on with us we have a wonderful board we get along very well like your board does and uh I have nothing else to say but we're very happy and we we are well trained thank you any coun I have any questions C ginski I'll be very brief I just to be sure I understand this and the public understands this if an individual had a part had part-time or a full-time job aside from their Municipal job at any time in their career and they had worked 30 I mean they they had worked a number of years 20 years 15 years 10 years and they were they hadn't had the privilege of working for this for the municipality they' get their social security is that correct they would get their social security if they didn't have a pension have a pension from the state or Municipal correct now if you get a your pension which we're going to vote on the cola whopping increase they're going to be cut from Social Security by up to 60% of what they would get work for just wanted to be sure I understood that correctly because I think this Council should take a resolution but that's another matter you are correct thank you thank you pe sounds like something our State Rep should look into I don't know was that uh so uh okay I move to approve the acceptance of chapter 188 of the acts of 2010 Municipal Relief act section 19 chapter 22 section 103j inserted by section 19 of chapter 188 pertaining to an increase in the maximum base amount on which the cost of living adjustment is calculated increasing the cola base amount by $2,000 the current Cola base is $166,000 to new Cola base of $188,000 as approved by the East Hampton contrib contrib contributory uh Retirement Board seconds to increase the call a from by two by 2,000 to 18,000 any further discussion can uh how did the um committee vote 3 to zero in favor okay thank you um those all in favor any against abstention wish passes thank you thank you and congratulations Mr President I'll personally miss you thank you uh we're going to be meeting on uh the Monday the 30th at 5:30 p.m. uh because the next two Wednesdays are holidays and we've got a couple items of new business uh that we would like to have ready for public hearings uh come the new year perfect thank you celor Public Safety C uh thank you Mr President um we met last week I don't know why I just closed my agenda we met last week uh last Tuesday um it was uh councelor Derby and I um Council Riley was unavailable um so we limited some of our conversation to items that we felt uh were for either information for the public or didn't require a full committee to discuss us uh we had um director Mason from the parks there to again review with him the proposal to reverse traffic direction daily on daily field road we also had a commissioner um remote in to give their opinion as well um I think the commission generally has consensus that this is a good thing to do uh there was a request at the beginning of this proposal that we make sure that we get ample public Buy in in um and because of how this change could affect neighboring neighborhoods U we want to make sure that we have one more um Public Safety Committee meeting that is as best advertised as possible to make sure that there's uh input from the public there um councelor Derby and I discussed the fact that we do feel that this should ultimately reflect on uh the traffic rules and orders because these are roads within the city if they're in a park um and so we will set a public hearing for that probably sometime for um February but we could do that a future date uh but overall again to the public who haven't heard about this this would be reversing uh traffic direction on daily field road which now currently comes down Wilston and louns and then goes into the park and then out on daily field road this would be reversing coming in by the old Stonehouse and then out LS and Williston which makes a lot more sense in terms of and traffic flow um and so uh we're going to we'll have one more meeting at our our next schedule meeting which is the second Tuesday in um in January um which is the 14th um we also discussed the uh proposal for a Citywide speed limit I think the general consensus is that this is a good idea um a a for Public Safety but it's a value statement from our city that we uh want people to slow down ultimately um getting people to slow down is through a lot of messaging and the behavior of others to drive safely but by setting that Citywide speed limit to 25 I think at least it will in theory provide a more safe City and more safe roads we have to hammer out exactly what that language is going to look like because they'll be exemptions and how we exactly want the warding to be um so we'll discuss that again our meeting and then I have reached out to the fire chief I think we'll probably have him in in February for a quarter early review um and we will continue to review the uh traffic rules and ordas which we did not do in our last meeting because uh we were missing one of our our valued um committee members and and spectacular clerk uh so again we will be meeting on January 14th uh 2025 6: p.m. likely in room 1 um and thus concludes oh um wait um uh what's our next meeting that that one's wrong this no everything's okay th concludes thank you um appointments C Riley thank you Mr President um so I know we've had a long meeting unfortunately appointment committee work is long in December I'm going to try to get through this as quick as possible possible um so the appointment committee last met Monday December 16th to discuss a variety of appointments and reappointments um our first order of business was the appointment of Allison Manuel to the director of planning and Community Development with a term expiration date of December 16th 2027 um Allison has worked in the West Springfield planning department for 9 years um starting as a city planner and then also recently as the planning director councelor Smith and I took turn asking her questions about her experiences moments she's most proud of and even some difficult questions such as how to handle pressure from developers whose interest may not be aligned with the public or how to have difficult conversations about land use and a sustainable future for eastampton um obviously you heard from the mayor earlier um that she supports this appointment um the HR department also signed off um on hiring her and the appointment committee resoundingly supported her appointment um so I move that the city council appoint Allison Manuel to the director of planning and Community Development with a term expiration date of December 16th 2027 second second I have a motion on a seconds to pleas appointment any further discussion see none those in favor I against motion passes also on our agenda was the city council presidential appointment of Daniel rist to the community preservation act committee with a term expiration date of December 31st 2027 words obviously cannot describe how intimately qualified he is to serve on the CPA committee I can say that confidently he is the most qualified person in the city of East Hampton to serve in this capacity instead of uh giving a report I'd like to turn it over to our council president if he has any further remarks about that appointment I uh I I cannot tell you this because he be he served in that committee for so many years I think um I think the committee is happy to receive him again um he he serve as a chairman of that committee for so many years and I think they're ready to to welcome him again and uh as soon I I make the call and I offer the position to him uh he was really happy to accept it I think he is ready to to I think he have more stuff to give to the community and this is a way to to do it so again I I don't no way to sell it this is easy yeah perfect so I more than happy to move that the uh city council appoint Daniel rist to the community preservation act committee with a term expiration date of December 31st 2027 second I have a motion of seconds to for the appointment of Daniel res to the CPA committee for explanation this December 31st 2027 and forther discussion seeing none those for in favor against abion motion passes thank you Dan welcome back next on our agenda we had seven mayoral reappointments councelor Smith and I had no issues with these seven reappointments so unless there are any questions I'd like to read them into a form of a motion okay so I move that the city council reappoint Yoshi bird to the affordable and Fair Housing Partnership Russell bran to the agricultural commission Michael cwick to the uh aquafer protection committee Rebecca paa to the community relations committee Felicia jadik to the East Hampton City Arts Theodore perch to East Hampton City arts and Michael sherwick to the historical commission all who had term expiration dates of December 31st 2027 a second to reappoint those whole members any further discussion see none those in favor any against exension motion passes all right and then the last order of business considered the reappointment of Eric pin to the Parks and Recreation Commission based on concerns that I received from petitioners appointees of the city staff of the city and members of the public we as a committee voted 0 to2 uh to reject Mr pin's reappointment now pursuant to section 2-10 of our city Charter Council review of certain appointments quote rejection by the city council shall require a 2third vote of the full Council except that an appointment to a multiple member body may be rejected by a majority vote of the full Council to clarify the parks Rec uh commission is a multi-member body so this requires a simple majority to reappoint or re uh to reject the [Music] reappointment and for the record the motion has to be in positive that's correct you look for that have to make a motion yes okay so so okay the motion is to appoint you say you we reint him we say no yes so so that's what wanted to say so as a quick moment to educate the public and counselors though the recommendation of the committee was against his reappointment motions must be made in the affirmative so I will be making a motion to recommend that the city council reappoint Mr pulin if you agree with his reappointment you will vote Yes if you vote against his reappointment you will vote no or you may also abstain so I move that the city council uh reappoint Eric ping to the parks and rec commission with a term expiration date of December 31st 202 27 second I have a motion on a second to reappoint Eric SP bulling to the par commission any further discussion cons Derby just to clarify the um appointment committee um took a a no vote on this that's correct okay yeah so if we were going to follow the recommendation of the committee we would vote no correct correct okay thank you goe and and you feel you you feel confident in that in that decision okay any other conselor for consor Kinski I'm standing because I think it's in good health to stand every periodically and I think we sit way too much so I I would recommend it to my fellow counselors I'm going to take advantage of it and I hope the public U standing desk stands more uh I am just kind of taken by a bit of surprise here this evening with this with this measure I would like more information I also understand the sensitivity of the matter and I would certainly hope that you would be more forthcoming if there wasn't issues of sensitivity uh I'll just say that and and I take it then that there is no further information um you care to share evening yeah so I will um defer to counselor Smith to to respond to that question C Smith so in the appointments committee meeting when we were looking over the evidence um you know usually we just want to make sure that there have been no complaints about a person and that the committee is moving along well in this case we receive four separate um concerns about this reappointment all of them stem to um inappropriate um body language um langu uh raising their voice and creating an intimidating environment to members of the committee so we took that very seriously thank you Smith cons kiski that answers my question thank you cons Dell I just wanted to say as you know I I seconded the motion um I support the reappointment of of Eric p and I happen to have the pleasure of serving with him on the park and W commission for almost 2 years um and I think he brings a valuable knowledge base um to that commission um I just wanted to state that thank you celor any other celor put those one in favor I I those one against no no I abstain I abstain too I also feel like I need to abstain do a roll call okay sorry uh Brad Riley No SI Tamar Smith no JT Terrell yes Owen zeret No Connie denim hi Salem Derby no Omar Gomez I'm JP kazinski stain Tom Peak oh my God doesn't matter motion fails what's up motion fails the motion fails one way or another well then I'll just I don't feel like I have so what you what are you voting I'll abstain motion fail all right thank you Mr President um the appointment committee will meet next on January 6th 2025 at 6 p.m. to review the final mayoral appointments in conference room 2 here on the second floor behind uh city council chambers and thus concludes thank you ordinance thank you Mr President um we haveen am met since our last meeting we're meeting tomorrow at 5:15 in conference room to um and that's everything that the count uh committee has to offer Council this evening thank you coun denim property ccor s um uh we obviously have no items on the agenda but I there are pending new there is pending new business and so depending on whether that is moved to Committee in the affirmative I will work with the committee members to set uh meetings um because of the sensitivity of one of the items um and the kind of uh boilerplate nature of the other they were probably be separate so I I'll work with the committee members um after we go through new business assuming that those are moved thank you and that rules and government ginski uh the rules and government Relations Committee had a difficult time meeting we were trying to get together and finally we were able to do it and unfortun I apologize that was today we met and so therefore counselors may not have had a lot of time to study or think about the matter but it was clear to me that the rules and government Relations Committee would like to be very open transparent about filling the new position that's becoming vacated by our loss of Precinct two counselor Omar Gomez who will miss by the way very much I will say that that being said we want to be sure that there is plenty of time for uh uh adequate consideration and for public input and we have outlined a process and a timeline filling that vacancy if I may Mr President read that I think that would be the best way for the public to begin to understand and hopefully the Press will gather this and help us out anyone who wishes to apply for the Precinct 2 upcoming position who is a voter and resides in Precinct 2 please take note there was no one in in who had run against councilor Gomez who had had the sufficient number of votes to be automatically qualified and there was no one who ran and received sufficient amount of votes in the at large position so that left it to the council to make this decision on behalf of the voters of Precinct one and in fact on behalf of the the whole city so it's now up to us to outline the process our recommendations at 3 to Z are as follows that starting tomorrow December 19th through January 7 2025 applicants who seek to be considered shall send a letter of interest along with a resume if desired to the East Hampton City Clerk by January 7th 2025 that gives plenty of time for anyone to out there to uh let it be known that they're interested uh uh from Janu on January 13th uh the 2025 there will be a special meeting of the city council at 6 p.m. uh and that time the council will hold the special meeting in a hybrid format so the whole city and the public can be part of the process observe and uh see what's going on uh so that they can become familiar so it'll be held in a highway format where candidates will be have up to five minutes each to speak before the council and the public about their interest in joining the city council candidates should be prepared to answer follow-up questions from counselors if there are any uh our feeling was that this is a public position you're going to be asked questions you ought to be able to answer questions on the spot if there are any and I Our Hope was that the clerk would be able to gather the documents that are delivered to her by the 7th so that we could have them on our meeting on the 8th and that way all candidates could be announced at that time so that the public is aware of who is running so that by the time the 13th came around and there was uh an opportunity to speak they would be able to speak and the public would watch at that time January 13 through the 15th the public may contact counselors to provide any input that gives almost two full days for the public to be involved in the process after hearing from the candidates on January 15 2025 there'll be a special meeting of the city council at 6m the council will hold the special meeting again in hybrid format and shall nominate candidate or candidates for the position and if seconded the candidate or candidates shall have their name entered and the council shall vote to select the candidate to fill the vacancy using a single voter vote system using a single vote system that's the recommendation all of this is subject to the City council's full uh endorsement so if there are any questions or any thoughts or ideas now would be the time to bring them up otherwise this is the plan how we how we'll move forward vote on it uh first of all thank you for doing this in sort a short time uh constraint and I appreciate the counselor uh the coun at large who sitting at the end who also recommended outlining a process um uh my only question just trying to think about all the combinations and permutations in terms of I don't know how many candidates we have is the um the potential um two things the the potential draw back of a single vote system um a because I can see so you would look I'm just going to ask a question you answer afterwards so I'm assuming you're looking for a simple majority in this case it would not be a full majority of the council so if there were three candidates uh and one person got four votes and the other person got three and the other person got two the other person with four votes I assume we would win that is correct okay um but if there were three candidates and oh right there's only eight of us okay um so I guess if there's two candidates and there's a tie um but I the other thing I'd say is that we we already have established I understand that we kind of keep refining this process um because we've done this twice now once with a counselor selection and once with a a a school committee selection and um both times it was with ranch voting and I think that works well so I just I guess I want to a ask why the departure from that process and and then B would you consider it I there's a lot in there I think filtering through to the bottom line basically I think is for brevity purposes should we have a a rank Choice voting we' need a frankly a consultant to help us I I think U Barb can you you're the voting expert in the city and I would turn to you and share what you shared with me if you would I think it's important to know will you will you handle this for us well if you were going to do a rank Choice voting we'd need to get Dan to come in and help so it gets it can be be be complicated uh I know we have an advocate of rank Choice voting an expert who could uh help us with that and I know we'll hear from him toight all right before that um because it's a lot of here right in in this uh proposal probably the only thing that and I just want to be sure that we only disagree in the way of electing the new person and we agree in everything else or is any other concerns in everything else good everybody's comfortable so now thank you for that clarification and uh now the question is if the counil feel comfortable doing right choice voting having one of the expert then probably is not going to be here because I don't know we can account with someone that we didn't um talk yet probably he will say yes but we have a consol Peak that probably he will um guide the counil in this process PE I'd be happy to okay um so now the question is Right saying that um and I I'm not doing this because it's late I'm doing this because I think we should move the process um now the question is if the council want to amend this and instead of single vote of using single vote system adding ranas voting and if that is the what the cils desire I guess I will take a motion and first I will take a motion to the full document we amend it and let's move forward so moved second we have a motion on a second to uh approve the recommendation for the rules committee any further discussion I would like to amend the timeline to recommend uh at the end instead of using the single V vote system uh to using rank Choice voting system and I would also note that in Precinct 2 if being a Precinct counselor it also makes sense to use the same form of voting as that Precinct as well second um we have an amendment to the correct but that's there's only two people there only two people any further discussion I I just would like to add I from I I have no you know strong feeling either way on this it just was a matter of simplifying the process and I think you know not knowing if Dan 's availability and what if Dan doesn't show up and then what what where does this put one of our counselors if we look to you Tom in this regard counselor Peak because you're you're an expert in it but you're also a voter and does that split your kind of tallying the votes or thinking about it or being there because we really needed I I know I I I'll speak for myself I needed dance guidance in bringing us through the process when he helped us before because it it can be a little cumbersome I think but peek how do you feel about that um happy to help if I highly highly suspect Dan would be happy to be the sort of to to bring this along if he is not I am happy to find one of many other people I I I know who would be uh willing to be sort of a volunteer on the process it really is and and in fact we have uh outlines in our rules for how to do this already it's already codified so there's really nothing we would need to do other than continue adhering to the rules that we already have right okay s Mr President may I ask a clarifying question regarding the the nature of rank Choice voting to keler Peak um councelor Peak if within the confines of rank Choice voting is it implicit that if you have only two candidates that it's then um a and no ability for right ends in this case that it's then basically effectively a single vote system it effectively is because there's one two yeah you just yeah you'd write one or two or you just fill out the one and the two is implied okay okay thank you um this one in favor I I anyone against abstention no I the amend amend amend f um no everybody say I everybody say I yeah so we're going to vote now for the original uh motion as amended those all in favor any against motion passes Kinski I would just like to add I would ask the the clerk to have available the the of course the precinct addresses and where someone would live so that anyone who's eligible could certainly make that easily easily available which I know you do but go see clerk if you're interested and you wonder if you're eligible because of where you live I uh would like to be able to take up the rules uh revision uh in January that something and councelor uh Gomez has promis to be able to get a piece of a document that we are looking for to help us with that with that process and once we have that I think we can move move very quickly on that matter so that concludes thank you Derby thank you Mr President I'm going see if I can move through these here uh we have a utility poll location request for ever Street I move that that be sent to property committee second have a motion on a second to sell theity poll location request to the property committee and the discussion those in favor I against uh we also have a city ordinance request regarding flags on Prop uh public property including ponds I move to send that to property second I have a motion and a second to send the city ordinance request regarding the FL public property any further discussion just I would recommend that we move to suspend the rules just because we don't I I think that this is a very time sensitive item but we also don't have a fully we don't have fully flushed out language for it and so due to rule 5c I would just recommend in an abundance of caution to suspend the rules in this case second Mo second to suspend the rule for those for in favor Obion motion business um we have uh the city ordinance request regarding flag on PO property to send it to the property committee any further discussion now for those want in favor against motion passes okay thank you uh we have a request to review residency requirements for memberships on committees boards Etc I move that that be sent to ordinance committee second I have a motion a second to send this item to the ordinance committee any further discussion see none those are in favor any against exension pass okay then let's see if I can remember this one we have a home Rule Charter Amendment section 3.1 see mayor compensation I move that we send that to rules committee is that correct y second have seconds to send this item to the rules uh committee and the discussion see enough for those in favors against abion motion passes uh we also have an interde departmental transfer which I will pass to councelor PE do just add little bit but do you have the language for how do all right uh I'm making this request in the form of a uh motion um this first reading in the form of a motion and also when's our first January meeting 8 uh and and I'm oh yeah Okay cool so uh the inter departmental transfer request is hereby made for the approval of the following appropriation amount requested $39,375 in these Chambers second I have a motion on a second for this transfer of $89,300 to the fund new afsm Union employee contract for fiscal year 2025 and to send it to the finance committee at to schedule a public hearing on the 8th at 6:15 of these Chambers any further discussion see not those want in favor against abstention motion passes okay I'll make a second one uh request is this is I also make this in the form of a motion uh request is hereby made for the approval the following appropriation amount requested $75,000 to be appropriated from CPA reserve for open space $75,000 to be appropriated to nuk pickle ball pickle ball court expansion $75,000 the amount request will be used for the following purpose for the design and construction of two additional pickle ball Courts at nuk Park and I would also uh request that we set a public hearing for this item for January 8th at 6:15 in these Chambers second Pi I have a have second for the CPS 75,000 for the construction of the two new p cour in nor Park and to SCH on the 8th at 6:15 of these Chambers any further discussion see none those in favor against abion motion bues we have one more thank you Mr President uh we also have a zoning Amendment consideration of the Housing Partnership recommendations that we saw a presentation on tonight and move that those be sent to ordinance foreview I have a motion on a second to send to the ordin committee the attorning ordinance Amendment U to the ordinance committee um any further discussion um those are in favor any against exension motion passes Mr President councelor Den yes now I'm thinking because he's going to be first that's why like uh sorry I just at some point I need to add days extend the deadline I forgot that January 1st is a holiday so I was not um than it yeah um so I need to extend make a motion to extend Amendment chapter 8 to add section 8-3 eastampton Trevy ordinance and amends several sections of chapter 2 Division 3 Council on Aging by 60 days for both of those second how many days 60 motion second to extend those item for 60 days any for discusss you need none in favor uh Mr President I have requested that I have some vice president Communications for the end of the meeting and I'll try to be brief but not cheapen the moment because as we've heard tonight this is our esteemed president's last meeting um leading the ship uh and I think from what we've heard you've had a pretty significant impact and and you know one of the biggest jobs of the vice president is to say something when the president leaves and to hand off um the plaque that we give so I'm going to give this to you but I have something to read oh I could take it out but there's yeah so there's a card in here I just want to get my fingerprints on it so I'm let I'm going I'm going to open this I will let you take it out so you can and then and as you take that out I do I do have something to say and and I think I thought long and hard about this um and so I I wrote this I'm I'm going to give it to you so you can frame it too okay okay dear Omar on behalf of the East Hampton City Council I should probably use my glasses and the entire Community I want to extend our heartfelt congratulations congratulations on your election as state representative for the second Hampshire District while we are sad to see you leave your role in the city council we're incredibly proud of you and excited to see the positive impact you will make at the state level your journey with the East Hampton City Council has been nothing short of inspiring since your election in 2018 you have demonstrated unwavering dedication integrity and leadership as president of the council for the past two terms I had the privilege of serving alongside you as your vice president and I can attest to your exceptional ability to lead with fairness and Clarity your commitment to order decor and adherence to the rules has not only strength stren the council but also set a high standard for governance in our city beyond your work in the council chamber your background as a high school softball coach exemplifies your natural leadership and mentorship the skills you honed on the field teamwork perseverance and calling things as you see them have seamlessly translated into your role as a public servant you've always been a hard worker unafraid to tackle challenges headon and your passion for making a difference shines through in everything you do as you embark on this news chapter as state representative we have no doubt that you will bring the same dedication and vision to your work in advocating for families youth health care jobs and the environment your focus on these critical issues reflects your deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of our community the second Hampshire district is fortunate to have such a passionate and capable leader representing them we will greatly miss your presence on the city council we are confident that your contributions at the state level will continue to benefit East Hampton and beyond your legacy here one of hard work fairness and steadfast commitment to progress will not be forgotten we wish you all the best in your future endeavors and look forward to seeing the incredible work you will accomplish as a state representative know that you will always have the support and gratitude of your East Hampton family thank you [Applause] congratulations I don't know if anyone going to say something but I'm going to say something um 7 years ago I was really really afraid you were what I was really really afraid I was really concerned about people judge me because of my accent I was really concerned about what people's going to say because of my look because I look different I'm have dark and skin um but I have to say that the people from mton even the people that that I disagree um W welcome me and in a way that I can um say anything bad um probably we will disagree and in in policies that that's it we love the same city I didn't grow up here but I love this city probably more than people who grew up here um I learned so much from each individual um including Joe McCoy that I remember being in that position there and Joe McCoy said s years ago that I'm going to be in this position and I laugh CU I she right um I was say to each individual that I sered for the last seven years thank you thank you was a privilege for me serving with you in this capacity um I learned learned so much and I'm taking every single experience that I uh share with you to the state house I will say the um sometime I was the only one voting no and I know Boston is different but I'm I'm not going to be afraid there to say no to um I'm going to fight for the people of second Hampshire for the people of Eamon for the people that we disagree um I'm going to fight for you too um because sometime we disagree here but at the uh large scale probably we're on the same page so uh you're going to have a champion on me that that's it and again thank you thank you that was a pleasure to serve with this amazing woman next to me I feel uh that since day number one I feel so comfortable being here next to you thank you thank [Applause] you Mr President if I may uh C Kinski I I think I think you've coun Derby you said it perfectly I think for all of us I'll be brief I know in my heart we're sending to the State House a representative that has the people in in in in their heart and in their mind and to me that's everything congratulations thank you so much for all your service thank you thank you thank you C I'm going to try this and so forgive me if I get it wrong but I've been taking I've been doing Duo P East stampton so I think I just said um you said it I want to say that was really good it's a pleasure to work with you and you know I can be long-winded so I just want it's a pleasure to work with you my my classmate you me and Tom yes um and sometimes we agree and sometimes we disagree um but we were always able to work together because and I remember saying this to you the first one the night we we both were elected in becauseas is stampton we are united for e stampton and I know that we have agreed and disagreed on things um but yeah right and I'm very I'm proud of you I'm proud to have serve with you mle I know you'll be fighting for us on Beacon Hill so uh just thank you we'll talk more we'll have a 30 minute coffee meeting that turns into 3 hours yes yes thank you thank you that's that I wish I can take the motion I I wish I can make the motion to ajour but I can't as a council president so I will take a motion to ajour some I have a motion and a second to aour thank you everybody uh for those who my favor and against I want to go home thank you everybody see you I bet your wife wants to picture all together yes let's do it oh yeah that's a good idea bathro we got did get get it