Council Lawrence Alliance For Education intentionally they scheduled their budget hearing for tonight at the same time conflict with the Lawrence city council meeting please when they come here for their budget review remind them thank you uh the next person we have is uh Rich Russell councelor Russell good evening councilors my name is Rich Russell 34 cross street uh before I make this comment I realized last weekend was graduation weekend for a variety of educational institutions so if you intended a Graduation Ceremony this comment isn't directed to you I want to take all other City officials to task for not being able to attend beautification day at Belleview Cemetery last Saturday if any City officials use using Clement weather as an excuse for not attending I have this to say none of the veterans buried at bellie had any say in the weather conditions they served in for our country I wonder how many City officials will show up for the city uh sponsored ceremony next Monday note to self bring your camera s to document those in attendance uh maybe uh they will all show up to give our departing vso a uh a send off on his last day of work for the City of Lawrence next will the city be reimbursing uh deese the cost of the search for the next school the city's next school superintendent considering the fact that the city stole the selection process not wanting to get involved in the educational process in this city but I'm hoping for a a deos deos X MCA event and Russell Johnston of deese saying no way Mr mayor continuing on a tra a tall skinny traffic cones with no parking notices enough of a notification for the beginning of Paving season in the city personally I don't think so I see on tonight's agenda where free cash is going to be shuffled around to various unnamed accounts it would be nice if the money could be spent on a traffic study to help improve traffic flow in the city in the afternoon last I know vso Jamie mendis is in attendance I want to thank him for all that he has tried to do for the veterans in the city he did his job for 14 years and Uh I typify that with the saluting process that the members of the 82nd Airborne used to use all the way sir uh I salute you for a job well done as always I thank you for the time and wish you luck and waiting through the hund which is means that they're they're satisfied with it that's not the question the the the determination is handled locally by the Conservation Commission not by mass DP but were there any approvals was there anything that went to mass DP for their approvals at all no no they could they could appeal it and and if it was going to be appealed if the public was going to appeal it it would go up to them but they're not making they're not they're not making a determination on this the local conservation Commissioners Mak the determination and it's revie that termination gets filed with the EP as a repository but that would be again to the registry of deeds if somebody work for the registry Deeds I don't think they would have to recuse themselves because documents get recorded there are you all set counselor you still left uneasy well this is a very unsettling question because I I don't want to put this project and any kind what I'm understanding this is very very limited and tangental that agency is not very involved in this right now it's a local matter it could rise to a state matter should there be an appeal perhaps a Wetlands appeal process at this point there probably there's a wetland so you get a notice of intent you go through all the process for that and that's a standard procedure what I'm what I'm what I'm struggling with is do I need to do anything like recuse which is what and if that's the case we wouldn't be able to move forward at the time so that's the bad news the good news is you would not be able to go forward the good news is because we've had this meeting right now at least youve at least had started the conversation you could put it on his t as under old business and send it up uh I mean send it up but have a vote at the full level at full Council level to discharge this from this committee does that make sense so what you can do is you you can't do anything tonight no I know I'm going to recuse myself so what's going to happen here so should we leave it like on um at you've got no choice you're going to have to leave new bus under new business until we're able to confirm it's going to stay on the agend involvement with this project it's going to stay here because nothing's going to happen to it and then you need I'm out you need to figure out if you want to put it to the full Council there were part the agency's name in question Mass D Mass D and so that that's just proceed I just want to make sure I'm clear I'm talking process here I'm not talking subject matter so the process here just process any item at all any item at all process if you wanted to discharge it out of the committee you got to put it on the full city council agenda under old business and then six votes for anything can discharge it out of this Committee just regular standard parliamentary process so but you're not going to I'm going to have to recuse myself just out of a abundance of caution on this matter I can't comment any more on the substance or anything like this so Madam chair does that help um do you mind repeating that last part of what your your recommendation was with this item just again for the Parliamentary portion of this and that's all I believe that this committee be once I walk out here this thing dies I mean that you can't move anything so it just stays right here it just stays here okay and so what will happen then you'll have several options at the full Council level but it would be important if you want wanted to move this item someone would need to put it and talk to the clerk and put this item under old business on the next Council agenda okay and then you can parliamentary do some things you and you can get more information on that from the clerk this understood all right so conversation dies yes so um I think at this point I'm just going to uh leave this item on the agenda we could put it under old business and we'll discuss it further um at at a full you know at a city council level um so if there's anything additional like any additional information that we can get to confirm um Mass D's involvement with this project in order to gain some clarity then we could discuss this at a later point in time would be on me be on you okay all right all right matter depart I think I get it what I I would talk to ethics what I would need to find out is just when I ask ethics I just have a better understanding of what the estate agency is doing in respect to this item so I can figure if there is a an appearance of a conflict that's what I would need to know so I need to find out you can call me afterwards or we can talk afterwards about what that is that's fine all right all right didn't request for somebody for the company coming to explain no no cuz we just need to confirm Mass D's uh involvement or lack thereof just to make sure that you know he's able to speak on this issue so um at this point I'm looking for recommendation to adjourn or do I is there another recomend no there's not unless there's another is there another item that we need to discuss no and you have no further questions um no um at this point I don't even think we could discuss oh you could discuss it with two people no there's no quum I don't have Quorum oh two out of four yeah yeah so I'm looking a recommendation to adjourn second okay all those in favor say I and the eyes have it e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e right I asking so I just Teresa should be able to see the detail would tom3 I heard you're good evening and welcome to the budget and fi oh can I can I have a a motion to counselors can I have a motion to um to resume from from Recess so second motion has been made by council president second by councelor Marl good evening and welcome to part three of the budget hearing uh today is Thursday May 30th it is now 709 members Council council members here in the chambers we have to my right the vice chair councelor Vivan marmal and council president javanni Rodriguez to my left councelor Wendy Zone and I know we're just we're just beginning recess but I know we're a recess but I'm going to read this again um pursuant to chapter 20 of the acts of 2022 this meeting of the budget and finance committee is being conducted both in person and via remote participation a reminder that persons who would like to view to listen or view this meeting while in progress May either attend here in the city council chamber or use our Facebook that is finally now working and our YouTube page uh at this point can you please join me in the Pledge of [Music] Allegiance all right where this evening we're going to hear from the Lawrence Public Library human right commission Council and agent Rec Department veteran services the cemetery Department the cemetery Department of Public Works parking Enterprise fund Water and Sewer Enterprise fund inspectional Services Public Health and Licensing before we get into the offices um CFO can you please take the the the podium good evening good even good evening can you go into um I know we briefly spoke about this the other night but the 8% tax increase that that is proposed in this budget can you go over because we did not get a memo on this as to why and the details um and I've received from multiple members that they would like to know more about this 8% increase well as you recall counselors uh when we discussed it the other night on refer to refer you to uh page and get the page in the budget book on page 17 of the budget book you'll see that we have uh under taxes and excise the the motor vehicle I mean the personal property real estate tax in particular is up 7.6 million in total it's uh the tax levy this budget um proposes a tax levy increase of 6 milon $781,000 uh and that's to balance this budget we're still using 5 million uh from free cash to balance this budget but that's uh the 5 million for free cash is related to The Debt Service on the two schools in the police station um so uh the 8% increase that you're referring to is the um was a handout that the assessor provided uh and it shows that over the prior year 6,781 th000 is 8% uh roughly 8% over the prior year that's comprised of uh prop proper proposition 2 and a half increase of approximately uh 2.4 million uh then there's 900,000 a new growth factored into that and then we're using some of our excess tax levy capacity of 3,441 uh to balance this budget which which is a combined total of 6,781 th000 uh ofre primarily C can you go can you repeat what you just said before thanks the prop two and a half component of that is roughly 2,439 744 2 million uh um this is uh out of the 7 million 6,781 621 tax increase there's three components of that the prop 2 and a half the normal amount that we would have gone up uh is 2.4 million 2,439 744 and then there's a 900,000 in New Growth uh estimated New Growth um last year we had 1.4 million in New Growth but because of the U uh we don't anticipate there's not a lot of building uh the assessors estimate 900,000 for the upcoming year so that's included in this budget and then the uh we're using some of the E we had a 13 million excess tax levy capacity we're going to use 3,441 877 of that exess tax levy capacity so it'll still leave us with 9 million 9.7 million in excess tax levy capacity going forward and just for for for viewers and for the counselors uh since 2000 we we started uh the uh accumulating not going up the full tax amount pretty much in 2015 is the first year we started we we didn't go up the full two and a half and we put in uh uh we did not tax 1 Point 47 million uh in fy15 and then in fy16 it was another um uh in fy16 we did go up to the capacity in fy1 17 we we added another 400,000 to that layer so we ended up with 1.9 million and so on up till the present day so over the since 2014 uh and including this uh even using the 3.4 million uh ta excess tax levy capacity there's still 66 million 66.8 million that was not taxed to the taxpayers from 2015 to 2025 that was a lot in a in a mouthful but uh council president can you go over the uh the actual uh percentage that went up since 2014 um I have that in a a spreadsheet um that I printed but didn't bring down with me I think it's in the printer Marlin can you open the printer and get that form yeah and uh but there is uh par can you make four copies thank you yeah thank but the um uh roughly uh we we did not go up anywhere near the this is an 8% increase we've normally gone up uh because the new growth in a few years was uh I have have the new growth numbers they just don't have the percentage increase but in in right after the Columbia gas explosion we'd had a lot of uh uh Columbia Gas had to do a lot of personal property work so on fy20 we had new growth of 4.2 million so we didn't go up the we didn't increase the 2 and a half% but we did go up the new growth uh and that new growth was probably close to um probably 4% um and then in fy21 we had 3 million in New Growth so in fy21 we um fy21 we did you we did go up an fy21 on the tax levy of 2 million and New Growth was another 3 million so we did increase of approximately $5 million uh in the tax levy in 21 in 22 and 23 uh we did not go up the proposition 2 and A2 but we did do the new growth and again the new growth in fy20 uh2 was 2.2 million and FY 23 was 1.7 million so even though we don't go up the normal proposition two and a half we do go at least up the new growth uh because that was not on the roles from the previous tax year so we we probably did go up uh you know uh approximately 2% perhaps in those years even though we didn't increase the uh the additional amount for proposition two and a half council president yes just to U just U you know elaborating on your point we didn't go up uh we went we went up on the new growth but the new growth are paid by whoever built or whoever actually did the new growth perhaps new construction or Colombia gas four and a half something Millions so they pay that not necessarily the people the property taxes it gets assess to everybody but in general if you didn't have uh if somebody uh uh like Columbia Gas did uh uh a b a bunch of work the last year's bill would have been you know x amount and then it did uh the assessed value of that property is now increased so they get a they get a uh a little bigger piece of that pie but it is assessed it's part of the tax becomes part of the tax levy the new growth so in general the people who who did something are going to pay more but it does go impacts everybody's tax bill they don't you know they don't necessarily take the 4 million and say oh it's it's you know in's property and Bill him it's uh the new growth is is the U is is the entire amount of the tax levy itself and it's distributed to everybody but your property values wouldn't have increased and mine would so I would get a larger share of it but it's not necessarily that four million Alex can explain that a little better than I can but that's the explanation he'll give uh sure on on page 17 as you refer to as you refer uh the real estate tax is 7.6 uh 63 uh 6 7, 66 63,000 220 but and we have that as a real as the as the as the real real estate tax y but we only it's less than that though it will be less than that the the reason for that the the FY 24 number of 75 m705 for Real Estate if you look on page 17 the the uh for FY 24 the actual uh that was our estimate when we put the budget together and then when uh in the fall when we set the tax rate that's when the new growth numbers actually come in so last year I believe we estimated 1.2 million and then we actually took in New Growth of 1,478 so we uh so so that number is comparing the current year tax um uh tax levy uh or real estate tax amount to the prior years's amount that was in the budget but not the final amount that actually was assessed to the taxpayers that I have in my hand and that the difference between the actual Levy and this uh 83 million that's in here for on page 17 for fy2 is going to be 6.7 million 8 6 million 78 8 621 exactly that's a that's that's an estimate right that's the that's the based on this budget uh that's the that's an estimate because the new growth is just an estimate of 900 if it comes a little higher that tax bill will go down a little bit but in general uh that's what's supporting this budget is a $6.7 million tax increase thank you um yeah the I think just the yeah just this one here this one's a little confusing so not going to corre yeah that's yeah want so the but you use this number to balance the budget but you're still saying that it's going to be less less than that which which number you refering page 17 yeah the 7 million 17 is not the actual uh that's just the change from this year to last year in the budget book but when we actually uh uh when we actually do the tax calculation in the fall the estimate that the estimate will go up is 6 is 6,781 that's going to be the combined total of the real estate tax when we receed this n this this table here uh assuming that we're going to increase the amount of 6,781 621 we are assuming that you know uh single family properties are going to be uh a tax if are going to be seeing a tax difference uh in average of of about $300 and condominums $167 uh two families $410 and three families about $481 commercial and Industrials anywhere between 1,000 to 3,000 but that's assuming that we're going to vot November a t a factor of 175 yeah so this table is basically very as an assumption everything's an assumption this is a a a budget uh the we assume new growth of 900 if if new growth comes in at zero uh we may have to come back and cut the budget or we have to uh come back to the council appropriate another 900,000 to balance this budget the tax recap uh or the send before we can send out tax bills Department of Revenue checks our work and make sure that the budget that we have balances to the revenues that are coming in uh and that's part of the whole tax recap process uh taxes comprise u i you can see from our our our budget total here of uh of roughly $438 million uh the tax uh Levy uh is proposed for this year uh of 91 million so there's 300 and something million of other revenues that support this budget all estimates I mean the there the cherry sheet estimate is an estimate we prepare this budget based on the governor's uh proposal of of the uh of the cherry sheet it changed slightly with house Ways and Means and the Senate version recently came out with another very slight changes so materially it's correct but uh until the the governor pass or the the legislature passes the budget sometime hopefully uh usually it's been in July they don't do it before June 30th uh but in July if they if they cut state aid we'd have to come back and either cut the budget or I've got a whatever that shortfall is we have to make up with other estimated Revenue before we can send out these tax bills all that all that math gets checked and everything is uh in the fall Everything Changes because that's what we have the final numbers the assessors have the final assessment of everybody's property uh the new growth will then be certified by the state uh I I use the Assessor's estimate of 900,000 hopefully it'll come in a little higher when the actual numbers come in and uh and that'll help us when we set the tax rate what is chair what is the current balance of the free cash at this point uh let's see uh so I have a number of items in front of the council that haven't passed yet so I believe this one did so it's roughly 41 uh let me see yeah 41 milon 321 840 I have transfer requests uh in front of the council that we discussed last night and also this budget if this budget is passed this budget assumes 5 million of free cash will be used so after we make all those transfers uh will'll have roughly $2 million in free cash remaining but the transfers as I discussed last night will U we will have uh we may not have we have little little free cash but we'll have 10 million in a uh stabilization Reserve that's undesignated and another stabilization reserve for Debt Service of 20 million uh and then we have a fiscal stability Reserve fund of uh another 6 million uh along with a opep trust fund of 2.7 ion so we we'll still have um you know roughly $50 million in in reserves set aside all right any further questions or come council president um if we if we increase the proposition to and a half plus the new growth will we have enough enough fund on the free cash to balance this budget well I'm already assuming 5 million the problem is uh if we take more than that um a free cash if we want to use more than free cash remember our free cash shouldn't be used for operating purposes because we might have free cash this year but we wouldn't have it next year uh so free cash we've been uh uh limiting it to uh the The Debt Service that uh that we did without a debt override and we said okay that'll be a planned use of free cash uh the state the Department of Revenue and the rating agencies are okay with that it's a planned use of free cash because we didn't uh we didn't go with a debt override and and we can can afford it that's why we're setting 20 million aside and a stabilization reserve for Debt Service but if we start using free cash just to balance a budget which is what the city did in the in 2000s uh I think in this schedule that we just handed out you can see maybe maybe you can't see it but you can see from 2002 to um you know to 2010 when the city was uh 27.4 million in a red um there's no excess tax levy capacity on here the in 2002 there was excess tax levy capacity so for example in 200 2003 the first line in your report there was a 12.3% increase in taxes so they obviously used uh uh uh some of the excess tax levy capacity they had in that year uh you can see again in 2005 they the uh tax increase went up 7% so they must have used uh again U um excess tax levy capacity I seem to remember looking at financials from back then I I think the excess tax levy capacity was approximately $ 7 to9 million and by 200 uh you know 9 and 10 they had used it all up and uh and because they were using uh the excess tax Li capacity and any free cash they had um they couldn't sustain that was not sustainable in their operating budget and that's how they kind of ran into a a little problem and state had to come in and allow us to U borrow uh borrow deficit notes to make payroll yeah you just mentioned the proposition two and a half and that and and the override and the promise of using free cash for to actually uh balance the budget and when it comes to different projects and stuff like that but this is this is what we're doing is is it is it's an override essentially because I I I think I was pretty clear with the city council when we passed the the raises for you know you can't get 5% raises out when you're only getting 2 and a half% in and again I I have to remind uh uh for those listening at home and the counselors you know all these years we did not go up uh there was many years here $66 Million worth of taxes that we never build and and you can't go back and collect 66 million so that that is a permanent uh uh tax relief that taxpayers did receive all these years it was 66 million that we did not tax that we could have we're asking to tax 3.4 million of it this year um can you can you provide us the the actual uh proposition two and a half uh only the proposition two and a half on the table because I'm seeing here that is combined with new growth uh because I remember that last year when we present the budget the the administration St that it was no increases and I'm seeing here that it's 1.84% so I understand that the new growth is included here but can you provide us just with a proposition two and a half percentage well I have another spreadsheet it's a little busy but I can U there's just a few additional columns on here and and the two and a prop two and a half colum is plugged uh because the new growth and the excess tax levy capacity I don't have the numbers from 2002 to 2009 so I I put the excess tax levy capacity at zero but I know it probably wasn't but if you go from 2014 on the numbers are are accurate and uh and you can see the proposition 2 and a half numbers uh I have the actual detailed calculation from uh because the way the calculation works is based on the not on the tax levy but on the tax limit the levy limit is how the two and a half is is reference so so I pluged the two and a half using the new growth and the and the total Levy increase increase but the actual uh prop two and a half numbers are uh in 2013 uh it was uh 1.3 million and then it increased U you know 14 1.37 you you won't see that in the in this report let me see 13 um so it's closed but there's some some differences because of the so the proposition the proposition 2 and a half when it comes to percentage now the the the Max uh it's is this column can you see it from there the the column to the right of prop two and a half that's not titled is not TI yeah that's a percentage increase percent that's percentage increase of the prop two and a half right the prop two and a half over the last year's Levy uh is uh in 2025 2.89% don't we have to uh take an a special boat when we go up above the 2 and a half% uh not when we have excess tax levy capacity in other words U the the uh if we didn't have excess tax levy capacity if we didn't last year we didn't go up the full amount of taxes so that that's we can use that in the following year if we if we want it that's yesterday City CC we any approval that's the budget vote is how it works as long as we stay within our Levy limit that's why there's a a tax levy there's a levy limit there's what's called a levy ceiling we're nowhere near a levy ceiling thankfully but the levy limit is is what the calculation uh the tax calculation is the prior Year's Levy limit not the actual tax levy but the levy limit um uh times 2 and half% uh plus uh New Growth so that's pretty much how it com it works all right any other questions comments all right see none thank you kaful you're welcome all right our first apartment of the evening we're going into Lawrence Public Library I see that the director is here director AB Brew you have you have the floor um what page what page is your budget on um one second what is it thank you council members um as it's no surprise we have been discussing that the library currently sits in the waiver with the state based on the municipality appropriation requirements um we have had uh numerous conversations on what's the city's plans and intentions to move forward regarding the budget I'm happy to announce but I must share that this is the city library specifically the public library has been on a waiver for almost two decades now it is the first time prior to the pandemic that the state actually put a term limit on that and threaten us with decertification of our library uh so this administration had incumbered this recently and as we're heading closer to the last year which is after this fiscal year um we have sat down with the with the mayor's Administration office and they have promised to get us out of the waiver this year unfortunately in front of you that is not the number that's that's that's demonstrated that um number that you have in front of you will not get us out of the waiver the intentions is to come back before you while we discuss where we should be the current M requirements uh needed to get out of the waiver is $1,678 um no 1 m678 $371 director is the Catal ler position a full-time position yes ma'am on average how much does actually I can just do the calculation councelors you have any questions or council president thank you Madame chair um so B based on what what I'm seeing here there is there is no effort on this budget to get the library out of receivership right correct if we didn't bring the alarm in regards to continue to push this conversation in front of the counselors and the mayor's office I don't think the Cold's interest obviously based on his role to balance the budget would have we would never been appropriated as we need in order to get out of the waiver so the budget is very um it's been um specific and there is there is no no funds allocated to the side to be able to use it eventually to do a specific a specific uh uh event or situations or perhaps getting you getting the library of receivership right in my understanding yes you're correct okay and right now we're not currently appropriated properly whether that's taken out or reexamined out of free cash I'm not sure I just know that right now the budget presented in front of you will not get us out of the waiver and it's not enough to sustain a library that right now I can share with you has increased 10% in foot traffic so we went to now serving almost 75,000 people so the idea that you wouldn't be existent without a certification and having that foot traffic decrease tremendously is what's threatened today all right and then why I hear you saying that this budget was going to help the library you say that two days ago when I was driving do my job and I hear you out yes the budget that's promised after the meeting with the mayor's office so we were going to adjust it but the book was already printed when the mayor had um announced publicly that he will be getting us out of the waiver so what their the intention is is to come before you again with an actual um revised appropriation for the library to get us to the one. 678 mark it is very traveling to me that you went to a a radio station and informed the public that this budget was going to help to get the library out of receivership and you refer give me one minute and you refer to the a specific amount of dollars that is reflected on this budget and you use the amount of $29 million that is on page some 17 of the budget referring to and informing the public that that money was going to help the library sir no give me one minute I still have the floor the money was going to help the library of this budget was going to help the library to stay out of receivership and that is not what you just said a minute ago because it's not a stipulated on that and that's missing foring okay council president director thank you jaavan I think you need to thank you council president um I think you need to go revisit what you were misinformed in I referred to the 29 million after a question was proposes how much of an increase was added to this budget compared to fiscal year 24 and I said on the Lawrence website the budget is public so you can see that there was an increase the physical Year from 24 of 29 million not referring anything in reference to the library the question asked was what was the increase for the old whole budget for year 2024 compared to what we're requesting for physical year 25 and I answered on the first page you'll see that it's 29 million that was it not referring to the budget of the library what I did state in that radio interview was that this Administration has promised to get us out of the way for fisical year 25 that I did state but actually the budget itself is not reflecting that so I was listening to it and I was very happy to hear that the budget because I we didn't have the opportunity to get to the libraries portion of it when you were saying that on Wednesday and today when I was looking at the budget it actually not hoping so we were talking about 8% increasement on taxes or you guys were referring that a not not a percentage but an amount of dollars was going to be increasing uh people's taxes and the reason why was because we need to have a safer City and also you were there as part of that the interview and stated that the library was going to be taking of receivership that's very traveling because I was expecting and hoping to see that money that we discussed previously the $1.6 million was going to be here so next time that you get invited to talk about the library and talk about receivership and then talk about the budget I think that you you need to kind of crossmatch the the what's the state there because I Hear What I Hear and I'm seeing all the why is here so and trust me it was it it was very troubling to me when I when I hear that and they're not seeing it here and people pretending and thinking that the increasement that they going to get on the tax bills it was going to help the library to stay open and so far that's not the case council president um if may I I know you said you hear what you heard and I said what I said anything that was regarding the budget was referred to specifically with the chief of staff where he just discuss anything regarding the street safety and the increase would help with the fire and the police never mentioning the library what was mentioned of the libraries that they're making an effort to get us out of the waiver and that the number has been presented in front of the administration office and the administration office is going to allocate that fund for fiscal year 25 which is not the one that's presented to you today which is fisical year 25 meaning making an addendum to come before you again where they figure out where they're going to find the rest of the money in order for us to be um uh certified direct certific did did the administration um give a timeline or an estimate on when if there is an amendment of when we should be expected to see this thank you I just want to point out in receivership just there there's a w they're requesting a waiver but they're not receivership there in good shape um but the uh uh the roughly 168,000 amendment is what we need to do it'll be after July 1 we'll come back in uh assuming this budget passes as is we'll come back in uh to the council and ask for a transfer from available funds or uh if we can wait until of the Fall maybe New Growth will come in a couple hundred thousand higher and we'll be able to come back to the council they'll appropriate an additional 268 to get them out of the waiver and just a comment on the on the the waiver the the state calculated this waiver or made their calculation of the required minimum uh contribution if you will back in 2007 uh to or nine is when they started and that's when the city had a lot of financial difficulties and and at that time as I traced it back they they uh used a um in 2007 or n the year that was part of this calculation the city was trying to help uh balance the budget so they they took the health insurance of 16 million um out of all the out of all the out of that one category and they applied it to all of the Departments so the library share was like 300 and something thousand they never really paid that health insurance and they just added it to that that Year's budget so when the state came in and said oh you have to keep taking 2 and a half% of that number uh that number plus 2 and a half% next year to meet the minimum required contribution it included a number of 300,000 and the following year that number was cut out of there and put back in that big number so it the unfortunately the way the state did this before we all got here it kind of there's no way we ever going to meet the the the waiver because of that small fact but we've been chipping away at this uh minimum contribution the last several years uh we thought I thought we had enough to get in there but there's a miscommunication as to what the required amount was uh so wasn't clear in the in the in the uh paperwork so uh Janelle brought it to our attention so the mayor is fully committed to uh uh providing the the additional requisition or additional appropriation to get them out of the waiver the waiver by the way is is uh was needed uh because we do get approximately 370 380,000 in state aid uh so if we're not if we don't get a waiver uh all these past years we didn't get a waiver they would have cut that 380,000 which is kind of remark able uh you would think the state would have a little try not to have such a hard and fast rule but uh but they're hard and fast rule is we uh um they want us to meet that minimum required contribution uh uh calculation and this year we're going to do it what was that amount again 3 milair council president you said right 380 what was that the amount that you stated the state aid the the AMC the amounts required to get to uh I don't have approximately 268,000 I think you have the numberal no that's something different what's the 26 but we have budgeted 373,000 I just put 300 plus in in this budget is a milion 49 we need to make it a milion 678 so just off the top of my head that's 269,000 268,000 in change thank you uh okay director of breu um I have I'm looking at one what we just discussed is a lot of information so I know personally this counselor here will go back tonight to like listen and be able to pause it and and and process everything that we discuss which is why my questions are not geared towards what we just discussed now but uh uh before I give the floor to the counselors I'm looking at page 148 and um and this is the the the itemized list of personnel that you have in in your department um my question one you did answer that the cataloger is a full-time position correct yes children's librarian full-time position yes we have three custodians which includes the head custodiat are they there every day fulltime the the request for the custodian the is went from part-time to full-time now so it is currently 2.5 the request there makes the third a full-time okay and the team coordinator is that a full-time position full-time and are these and all of these positions are filled correct currently yes and on average how long how many years have individuals worked in in the library well our head custodian has now been there I would say going on to 25 years and then um our youngest hire or our more recent hire um which is the children's room would be there I think she turned five months as a library assistant and we because of saff retention we like to promote within and um now she's the children's coordinator and she's been in that position for I think a week now and your assistant director do you have an is that is that position fulfilled yes I have an assistant director and how long has your assistant director been with you the assistant director has been there I would say she started as a team coordinator but was doing her maass as a human resource so I think I would be saying now two almost two years okay and what I'm and I'm I'm getting somewhere it's no nothing nothing negative towards you but again and I'm going to keep repeating this and for the people at home that tuned in no change no change in in salaries for the assistant director $75,000 yet we have a budget that has new position positions and they're already suggesting salary increase we have a custodian a head custodian whose salary is only being increased by 4,000 something to an overall salary of 51,1 169 who's been with the city for 25 years and yet we're adding positions adding increases for people that are either less than a week or don't don't um or I said this last night or pretend to do their jobs and we're giving them $100,000 plus I am so frustr I know I'm looking I know it's not I cuz I know we have some people from the mayor's office the CLE has heard me say this has heard myself and the vice Chair say this multiple times like this this budget is ridiculous it's ridiculous um is there anything else that you would like to say about the library no I just hope that the work that you see that the library is doing demonstrates um the need and the necessity for attention and that I hope that the leadership that you do see in it is reflective of the vision that I understand you're sharing now and what we would hope to be thank you councelors any um questions or comments for the library director I have a question counil marel I'm not sure if it should be directed to the director um through you madam chair I think this is more targeting the CLE um I just want to gain some understanding and Clarity the budget that was necessary for the library is there a reason why um why is it that we're going to need uh an amendment was it an oversight in terms of not you know was it an oversight on uh you know the administration's end and not factoring in what was necessary um in order to sustain the library and by the time the budget was done and prepared and submitted that it was figured out that um that money was not being factored in properly therefore um promising an amendment that's it yes when the U um when the library submitted their budget uh they uh you submit your budget along with any additional level funded the prior year along with any additional required uh request I think there was a little confusion as to what that number was so we increased the budget to 1.4 million we thought that was enough compared to the prior year uh but then we rece afterwards we received the the moror that was required of 1. 1678 and that's when we we met and the May are committed to doing that right away and that was because we were still in the middle of finalizing Union negotiations so getting that number is what we didn't see in munice and when the the new number presented itself so um we all Council M we were we were earlier we were talking about and I'm still I'm still hung up on the salary stuff uh so I apologize to my to my colleagues but earlier we we were just talking about 8% property tax increase a potential 8% property tax increase and for those here and for those listening at home um I'm not opposed to tax increases if it's if the monies are going to be used in a responsible way what I'm seeing throughout this budget in salaries it's not being used in a responsible way in my opinion and it's really frustrating to see um to dig in into every Department every office and seeing certain positions um being picked and choose who who is eligible for a raise and who is not um and that is my personal opinion as as one counselor but thank you I appreciate your presentation um is there anyone else is anyone else has a question or comment see and none thank you so much director thank you next we have Health and Human Services we have director valz here director you have the floor good evening counselors Maz director of Health and Human Services here um where do you want to start with wherever you want to start what page all right so 130 134 with Council and agent the page 134 134 so we're starting off with the c on Aging yes starts at 134 it actually starts at 133 where it has the FL budget so we were asked to um prepare a balance budget um my budget went up by $900 because um after I put in the budget when I put in the budget not the CLE the C put it in the right way um one of our uh union members bought back sometime so it gives them the opportunity to get longevity um so basically what what we did when we did the um balance budget you'll see that there's some changes in some of the line items I'd actually switched some things around I needed some more money in operating supplies and not so much um and other purchase services so I mooved some of that money around um pretty we we're doing pretty good with energy we're doing that um repairs and maintenance are all set the contracted Services those are my exercise instructors and um again we did need for operating supplies to operate the building fully um as far as Staffing um some of the monies that were put in on FY 24 reflected higher numbers so true numbers and they is what's there now um confidential secretary at 65 the um coordinator of Elder program at 48744 which was she was just hired so they start in the middle range of the pay scale that we have um the program assistance it went from 5 to 4 because I have two full-timers I took that money and made two full-timers one part-timer that is paid by the city who becomes a full-timer because I pay her from the formula grant and then one part time at 18 hours um a a week and then um the maintenance coordinator um who is a young gentleman that has actually worked with us from high school with covid and we hired him to be the pro um the maintenance coordinator and director why is his salary decreasing the maintenance coordinator it's not decreasing it's that's what they start in the middle of the pay scale so he got hired and that's where he starts at got it okay thank you so the the last years were higher numbers they were put in at that um but they start in the middle of the scale so next year we'll give them a raise to get to the next thank you um also on on average from what I'm here actually council president correct me if I'm wrong um confidential secondaries here in this building City Hall I believe the average salary is around 70,000 correct about so this one's a bit shy off a little but that's my balance budget yeah you you you heard my Spiel um councilor any questions or or comments for for this part of counc on agent coun president more money no no no more money allocated appropriately and more transparent and more equal throughout the City of Lawrence it's it's not more money cuz we have the money but it's not being allocated appropriately council president sure um uh director when we look at the positions program assistance everybody make the same amount or people make different amount so here yes because they're all like new people the the program assistance that are there are all for people that have were hired where where difference so we can focus on that uh on what budget so formula grant there's a program assistant there okay that makes like $29 an hour $28 an hour and then the program assistant that just started work at $24 an hour almost 25 so everybody's making the same amount kind of just about yeah okay again we have to go by the pay scale that were given to us for non-unions yeah of course of course oh yeah on the Range so yeah I I got I got that but what I what I get based on information that counselors get as you know people call and we hear that there is people that make more money than others and they just started and some of them doesn't have the the right amount of skills and so far so one I know you he that a bunch of times so I wanted to make sure that we discuss this here and we make it transparent and we make it open to for the public that that probably you know it's aware of of what might happen I'm pretty sure it's not something that you have done over years because you have been with the city for 34 start4 years and that's not a complain that we have have in the past but I want to make sure that we'd at least talk about that I appreciate it any other questions do you have any questions okay um thank you Vice shair Maru um um director bis how many new employees you said you had new employees new employees like me May so maybe since the new Administration started how many new employees four four anything else can you go over their titles sure uh of the new the new hired they program assistant and all of them program assistant director program assistants in this budget and then there's one person the one person that is part-time through the city is a program assistant and then gets paid full-time from the formal Grant so half of the money comes from 18 hours comes from the city and 17 hours comes from the foral grant make some fulltime and then my um coordinator of Elder programs um somebody left and then I hired a new person noes thank you director R director do we still have the council is it Council on agent agent commission or committee The Advisory Council advisory Council no there's no okay do we have any plans in the future to uh re revive that that it's appointed by the mayor yes got it okay thank you um we can continue to the next budget okay so um veteran services is that what we're doing next huh 136 137 so um as you all know um veteran services director um melindes um has left so I'm going on vacation when I come back hopefully we'll post the job and start the process of interviewing um so if you look at at what is their um budget it's the director of veteran services and that's a union position and it went up by $10,000 because of Union negotiations the confidential secretary um so she's new she was in the recreation department we moved her over to veteran services and then longevity and then a stien that's given to the uh vso from this it's part of the negotiation that happens um we did put $225,000 and that's for the flags and everything else that we do hopefully um and do more in the city and then the benefits is what we have when we do chapter 115 um as I understand as of right now um I spoke to um the com troller and there's 30 um veterans that get paid got paid last month so um which well actually this month on the 28th they got paid so we'll pay them again in June and then when we bring in the new person we start to look to see what we can do and how we can get more veterans help any questions or comments for the veteran services budget chair Wendy lzone I mean Council lzone thank you Madame chair to you Madame chair uh for how long is the confidential secretary has worked for the city for how long you have it's one or two two the confidential secretary only one veteran services she worked for the recreation department 13 years I believe and she's been here like almost a year so 14 maybe 14 years so let um that the um Community know that a person that has been working for the city for 14 years is making 55 56,000 because you asked for an increase a we do sure increase uh when others uh personal secretaries are making a lot more the double so just let the I just want the community to be aware of that especially the secretaries from the mayor's office um okay any other questions or comments seeing none director oh council president yes uh just a quick advice how we going to handle um the the veteran services while we we waiting for uh rehire or hire the previous person or the new person so I will be meeting tomorrow with um um the confidential secretary Nelsa carabello I also reached out to the Wilmington vso and the um North andova vso my understanding and I'm reaching out to the state and I actually reached out to Francisco Ura who used to be um in charge of Veterans Affairs fa I reached out to them and my understanding is a vso from another city can help us or town can help us to process the chapter 115 while we get this in process my main goal is that no veteran not be paid so I'm going to meet with them and call everybody tomorrow before I go on vacation to make sure that everything's in place and then again we post the job um and then we go through the Ser through the interview process so just three share so the position uh that it's going to be posted you say that it's going to be posted after the fight after you come back no no no proc I'll start the process so but it has to be posted for 10 days right unless you put in now that you mentioned that the person that was there is not longer there that wasn't a specific reason as of why the person left um no I mean he gave the mayor you know his he met with the mayor I I I don't feel comfortable to speak about that I think that's personal yeah that's personal matter not in public I got you I got it I got it um well I hope that we can have a a good solid plan for for this department because uh it could become an issue for for others if we don't get on top of it 100% agree and I will do my diligent job to make sure that nobody falls through the correct thank you and I think U direct I I think the process of finding a new director will be um will be will be very smooth U from what I've I've learned from director Owens our new HR Director he is he's an incredible um person so far so hopefully uh what he brings to the table will make it a very smooth transition for you and and this department that is and I also want to mention that um because he has an employee that had worked in the veteran services I went and met with him also and asked him if she can come down and help us during the trans so and she and he he agreed to it so I think we'll be fine awesome any last question Council yes a suggestion because we had never had a a woman uh directing the veterans um service in Lawrence hopefully if if maybe um if you can Target I will advocate for the best person to be hired I will definitely hire and I'm all about women right but we have to hire the right person with the right the right uh no no I I I'm just saying so making a suggestion because we uh it's a conversation that we had here last night hopefully the Outreach uh also uh targets uh women uh uh veterans women and the city and the state thank you I I wish to come before you next year and have this department grow some and and hopefully have a plan to um move it forward for okay thank you director vales bis thank you for what you do for the C thank you thank you next budget director uh Recreation Department what page is that on and that's on 144 so again um the director's pay went up that's a Union contract the administrative assistance is um when went up or the program coordinator um that's a hired person and it went up because of Union contract going up the scale and then um the salaries and wages for temporary is you know um the summer program and we're hope we're hoping to also um have staff that can hopefully hire some young um college students or someone that's looking for a part-time um throughout the year that may be work 15 hours or so during um baseball season so that we can have lights on and off and making sure that the parks are are well guarded and and everybody's following the rules um and then the vacation time that's buyback that happens and Longevity um that changed because there's no one in the department yet that gets longevity you have to be there for five years and director is next year right you'll be there five years um three and a half three and a half so he's got two more years to you mief coun on this is one of the Department that I think is under employee cuz taking in consideration how many parks we have and the activities that we see in every Park and I'm going to speak on behalf of the ones that I have on the North my district uh well for all the parks in the city I think that it it's I wish to see this um with more more employees hopefully because I know that you go you guys go through a lot maintaining and taking care of the parks so just to put it out there you guys do too much and I think you guys need help is to take it in consideration for hopefully next year budget I appreciate that I I do want to say that um we are the ones that run the permits and we run the activities and so on but we also have a great relationship with um DPW and you know making sure that the main maintaining of the park cutting the grass and so on and so forth um we work together to make sure that that happens um you know no one's ever going to no director should ever get up here and say no to more people because you always the more people you have the more you can do I totally agree thank you thank you dor any other questions or comments seeing none director next budget okay Human Rights Commission that's page 141 so that actually was just taken out um because we don't have a Human Rights Commission and there was a thought of putting a a a part-time director which um we just feel that right now is not the time because we don't have a commission so if it should happen and we come before you we'd come before you to ask you for some more money questions or comments counc president um just just man share um maybe the the the approach of re eliminating the position might not help out to bring the the the commission back because uh if we have a A Part Timer there that it might do the what we need which is the the outreaching so the way I understand it is um and councelor lome was on the commission is um what we really do is give the commission the tools to be able to come together so when we did when I did that the first year that it was there was 9 members six members in place and we had trainings with the city attorney and we also provided the um secretary to take no minutes and also for um it was on Zoom because at that time we were going through Co and everything else so never met in person but um because it is under HHS um the center is available to be used as meeting space and we would be able to provide a lot of the tools that they would need to have meetings and then um under my job description you know if if there is something that needs to be looked at together with the city attorney we would and then propose to the mayor what needs to happen no great great idea um I think that the Human Rights Commission per set is is something that we need to somehow get it up and running I know that before uh hearing from other Commissioners not from coun some but from other commissions that um it was it was it was lot of needs for them to be able to get it up and running and and be able to function currently and and I think that you know the this this uh this commission will help out a lot of different departments uh including all the Departments that are within the center so I I it will be essential I think that you know at least to make an effort to bring it back again to to actual quarum I appreciate that I'll take it into account make sure get any questions Council um I think uh we should go we need to go back to the ordinance uh to you m chair because it I think the uh Human Rights Commission calls for an executive director and it should be it's one of the most important commission um and it's not functioning because the mayor has to appoint the Commissioners uh and I know that um director bis had um she offered the center when I was serving as a commissioner but uh in general we have to take this seriously this city doesn't have a Human Rights Commission and it's the Major's responsibility to appoint members and and this Council should look into the ordinance because I believe that it's called for an executive director and and yes we spoke about a part-timer but $25,000 it's not going to bring no one uh it's not going to have we're not going to bring no one to work for that amount of money but it's important to take the Human Rights Commission seriously and it's the mayor's responsibility to appoint members uh to the commission thank you Madame chair I will follow up with you and look at it thank you any questions or comments seeing none thank you so much direct I believe that was your last one correct that's it oh c lone can I go back to Recreation Department yeah yeah yep so we're going back to the rck Department's uh budget okay um thank you Madame chair and who's the Administration Assistant in the person in the recreation department and when he was hired and when he started a job he was transferred from the mayor's office and he's been there uh about four months uh what is his salary director valis 6864 how many other hours he's working 35 35 can I ask for his name oh yeah yeah we did that's right we did do that for the yep you can yeah yep yep yep thank you Madame chair you mad chair and what's the name of the person that is in that position currently dionis m dionis m m a new hire sent to the recreation department by the mayor's office correct yes thank you who was getting a 1 $133,000 13,000 dollars plus salary increase all right thank you so much director you're all thank you have a good night thank you um we now we we have the cemetery next good evening to the council chamber good evening director good U director what what page are we starting on 131 131 131 actually yeah 130 131 I have a balanced budget there's no changes to it except with the exception of a 3% increase to um five laborers for a total of $1,891 director is your position a union position pardon is your your position a union position actually to be honest with you that is a can of worm but yes it actually is a union position but I'm not paid as a union that's I was hired as nonunion nonunion but it is a union position actually my title is superintendent superintendent okay um they were supposed to make it nonunion but it never came in front of the city council got it okay um but I this is actually a very nice conversation I'm happy we're having it because I was going to bring it up to the um City attorney I have all the paperwork as to exactly what happened and I would like to bring it up to the city council okay U the City attorney is a great way to start right so um I I have you in front of in front of the the the council uh the the budget and finance committee and before I open it to the to the counselors I do want to say um your efforts with the cemetery the events that you have put together incredible incredible um I I wasn't able to attend the most recent one but I was scrolling on social media and very nice compliments uh the the event was receiving so thank you thank you for your efforts on that thank you very much um and it's unfortunate with all the work that you do you are now one of the directors that is getting a raised for next here but uh actually I put in to get a raise but I was denied interesting okay thank you thank you that's that's U how many years how many years have you been in the position director I'm going on three three uh any uh council president I put in four arrays I put in to move into my next step in my salary r got it council president yes just a quick question on the principal account cler and the senior account cler is that the same person no what happened was with the Union negotiation last year they they changed all the titles because it was right outdated so there really wasn't not um an increase in her salary this year that happened last year no no no I I got it I just we have that discussion last night so everybody was senior account cler now is the principal account cler Council Lon uh thank you director Lopez thank you for that you do thanks I um I personally may call for my constituents and and and the service and the attention and that Special Touch of humanity that is always available when we call and I have to say thank you on behalf of the people that I sent your way un in that in that situation I just and for the people that are watching so we have in front of us a director that is working a lot and doing and work working the extra mile um helping uh the community and she's making $95,000 so you're making less than secretaries or assistants in this in this building so just for the record you're making less than a lot of people here and you're doing more that's a shame any other questions or comments you're welcome see none thank you so much director very much thank you for you do next we have one of the I consider one of the most complex Department of Public Works director Heyman you have the floor is the parking director is the parking Enterprise fund under us under DPW I don't that is correct okay I just I don't remember from last year you have the what what page [Music] 11 11 all right yeah good evening consors I'm b h director of Public Works I'm honored today to present in front of you I will propose budget for the coming fisal year 2025 that's going to be 15 Millions 525 26,000 89 so there is a few changes that we presented in in front of you so thank you $870,000 for Tru and recycling uh Collections and this cost so also we add in four positions two Carpenters one electrician and one plumber all of them are going to be dedicated to the school department to provide services but they're going to be reimbursing us uh at the end of the year so we also adding $250,000 for snow and sanding operations and $15,000 for fuel based on observe Rising on fuel cost that's all I have uh in my Bo counselors and I have to thank you for the continued support that we you've been providing to our department allowing us to grow and reflect that in the well-being of our residents thank you manag oh give me one second council president uh director H do you mind going over on the budget book what positions are going to go to the uh are going to be bring embor by the by the school department on the book because I want to take some notes okay so it's page 126 yes if you see like we adding we adding two new Carpenters one electrician and one PL you know C council president hold on this is this is what we're going to do cuz you have multiple you have 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 different budgets here um we're going to start off page 112 DPW admin and finance we did that um what was the department that we did this with uh first night uh with the cf's department so we're going to go over every every office's uh department and then after that I'll give the councilors a chance to ask questions and then that's when council president can get his notes all right so first one DPW admin and finance can you go over that budget director ctor page 112 ad in finance we adding $153,000 there that's for contractual and bargaining agreements with u the different unions that we work with okay councilors any questions on this one on this budget council president council president also any position you adding on this one so I we are no a new position on that line item so we move that position from the parking funds to the admin uh line item so we are not adding any opposition under admin and F so let me take some notes so the deputy DPW director of $95,000 was moved from another from the the parking that is that is correct if you go to page 112 you're GNA find that we founded that position on if you council president if you do if you if you do look at the old the last year's budget book 163 Sor about it 163 hold on director if the the the budget book of last year there was a deputy director position under parking so in the page 112 of the last year y now in page 163 three so that position we going to see is negative there because we move it to um admin admin and finance I think it's more convenience for pting purposes not to have yeah I see it here hold hold on a second yep is there um why director public work oh it's still never mind I just answered my own question Council lozon welcome thank you Madame chair to you Madame chair director um so you have two new Deputy directors under we hired two you hired yeah two they getting pay and all that two Deputy directors but they were budgeted none of your directors have any experience any engineering degrees is that correct that's right yeah engineering no engineering experience you're uh the um job description calls for some type of engineering uh it was not required it was not required no did they call for experience in the job because according to what I hear uh well complaints uh your Deputy directors don't have any experience on DPW work re that's what I'm getting yeah I think they have a lot of experience they need to be evaluated for you uh and I think we post it for like 20 days we extend the time and just three people apply for the position even we advertise that we send multiple emails trying to attract people to that position and and and I'm saying twice we posted twice and we just attract three applicants to that position from the inside from the applicants already working DPW that's correct um one of they was there only for eight months what experience uh can that this person have so you hire because there was no other candidates I think those persons that are going to be in front of you you have to evaluate them I cannot call then that they don't have the experience they already in the department and they showing a lot of progress but I can assure you that they're going to have the training and they're going to be capable to easily you know take those position off your um salaries are incredible different than other no they are different they are different we just had a director making $95,000 uh uh the cemetery director uh it's only making $95,000 if I compare that can you Deputy uh new directors it's a it's a lot of difference one is actually getting $95,000 and race no no no that that that shows that shows a transfer they're they're both for 95,000 they're 95,000 okay good so there is no raise there we just transferring you transfer from from another division to that so let let's go back and state the salary so I don't confuse the people that are watching so they both going to be making how much 95,000 95,000 okay so they are making the same amount of money that that uh uh director at the cemetery so let me tell you I cannot talk about all the Departments but my department has the 17 divisions yeah I you and I so it's we're talking about one division compared with 17 divisions and and and I think you know I I I cannot talk about that right now you I through you I don't want to talk about other responsibilities all departments but my department so we have 17 divisions and and again the the amount of people that we need is not just two deputies I think we need 10 of them to continue you know uh running the department as is supposed to be other cities they call every supervisor deputies the position is no is not defined by uh if it's going to be my assist no they're going to be dedicated to all the divisions that we have thank you director but I get to speak and talk about every Department that I wish that's that's that's why I'm a counselor uh just to put it out there cuz I I I I made a wrong comment so just to explain to the people that are watching the new repor is the two new repor director that you hire are making $95,000 which is the same salary that the director of the cemetery is making that's my point and let let me also say that uh uh you do an amazing job you're always available you guys are are doing a great job in the in the community so I I I need to put that out there too but I mean I'm really concerned about uh this two new deputies that you get that you hir according with the cins report they're supposed to make more so they started in 95 I think it's fair because again so we they going to be um you know running uh the department with me we're talking about 17 divisions again and uh we had to you know uh definitely put you know our best people to so two people without the proper experience are going to help you run a department that is so demanding councelor say that you just say that I'm just repeating what you said when I started working for DPW started with zero zero experience I'm I'm I'm not afraid to say that zero experience and I never thought that I was going to be the director of Public Works and again I'm here I think we we have to look for the best people you know but uh if they don't apply we're not going to get it I understand that director uh uh but also how many years it took you to get to your position I'm assuming you accumulated experience because you do an amazing job uh I'm saying that the two deputies that you hire they don't have experience that is required uh to run a department that is this Bay and that is so demanding um I just wanted to say that but thank you uh Madame chair thank you director any other comments or questions regarding the DPW admin and finance um budget counc council president just for the record that the capital the capital asset project manager is it is uh is getting a raised right that is correct what does the capital assets project manager do so he's in charge of all our Capital assets like title says we building two schools right now and we build I was looking for a specific so that's part of our capital okay thank you all right next budget um we have deput W engineering page 114 so as you see there is no changes there just the contractual finding agreements $4,888 where is the other half of the city's engineer salary coming from on the water department so they pay for half of that okay councelor any questions on on this coun um through you m counc so the director mentioned at the beginning that he's going to uh has intention to hiring plumers and what else did you mention director two Carpenters electrician and a pler a plumer okay and how many plumers we have so far uh two two two plumers and okay can you explain why do we get refund by the school uh you mentioned that at the beginning yes the school is so we have more than 40 buildings that are under our responsibility so that's the school we are responsible to maintain those buildings so if we keep our plumbers just in the school department so we're not going to be able to touch any fire station we're going to be able to touch city hall or go to our park that we most of them require you know the assistant of the plumbers and electricians okay and they all have their proper licenses I'm assuming carpers do they do they need licenses they they don't require LIC the Carpenters they just require the the training and training yes and then uh the electricians of course they need to have the licenses electricians and plums can we double check on that uh if please uh if you can submit something um on the Caron licenses because I'm getting a different side of the story if if you can send something to my email so about the license is for carp absolutely please and also if I may Madan chair um where can I find in the budget the money that you guys that that spend on um cars Automobiles and how many automobiles you have in the in the uh and DPW and if they are allowed to take the cars home some of the ones that are driving cars are that belong to the to DPW three questions so yes the the amount of vehicles that we currently have we going to send you that by email and yes we have uh employees that they allowed to take you know cars home they are on call and they need to come whenever you know whenever we call them if they had to show up at 2:00 a.m. in the morning they had to they had to they had to come and and I that's why they they you know most of our employees like uh that they require you know to take the vehicles home yeah so would you let me know if if it's only the supervisors maybe you guys call it differently that are allowed to do that or if it's anyone that yeah supervisor supervisors some of the formance that they and again so you don't want a city employee to approach the police the police officer at 2: a.m. in the morning when you don't have you know proper vehicle to to approach I understand director yes um uh just just for the record if you can send that um I appreciate it and I forgot the last question I asked about the license for the c t so again license Carpenters they do not require license they require trainings and they do not require licenses ah okay they work under the license of the supervisors of BU of buildings and Facilities oh okay so they have to be supervised yes by some one we license we license okay that may be the misunderstanding okay council president thank you okay mad thank you all right next we have we don't have anything under DPW Street Administration page 116 no changes no changes page 117 DPW street operations and Street Maintenance so again no changes there just contractual agreement anding agreements okay um DPW sanitation page 119 yes there we have um an increase of $750,000 On Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling and Trust collection $120,000 again those are you know uh the contractual agreements that we have with the uh company that is in charge of picked up our trust have we um hired a new recycling coord orator not yet so but we are in the process of getting someone okay councils any questions or comments no all right DPW Park maintenance page 121 so again there is no changes there just um bargaining agreements on contract to the UN all right page 123 DPW Fleet Maintenance so we have our we have mechanics 124 right yep so not we have our own Mechanics for DPW Vehicles yeah there is no changes there okay your again so uh contractual agreements with the unit that's it all right next budget 125 DPW Building Maintenance that's uh we already went to that that's building some facilities again so those are the two Carpenters the electrician and the ploma that we are proposing to hi okay and then we have DPW parking I mean I'm sorry snow and sanding yes we adding $250,000 to uh snow and sanding operations again it's never going to be enough but we can not predict what we're going to get but at least we put something here in the DPW parking parking division no changes there again no new employees okay that was the last one um counselors do you have any questions or comments for the overall DPW budget councelor uh marmel I was someone to say lzo I don't know I don't look like L uh um comparing comparing to other cities and towns with the same demographic and population um how do you how do you find that your department Compares in terms of like the number of employees that you have um in order to be able to fulfill all the the requests that the city requires to fix and and and and make uh you know adjustments to the city yeah considering how our city is growing and is growing so fast I think you know as I always said and and every year that questions you know arise but I can tell you hundreds are not are not going to be enough the amount of request that we receive daily is is is you know uh unsustainable so but we have to work what we what what we have right now and that's what we doing so I think by the amount of people that we already have so I think we do they doing a great job and we're going to Pro continue providing them with the tools and in every budget we're going to add you know one or two so that we can continue you know uh putting new hands in our P do you guys have like something within like um stats or data in terms of the the amount of requests and the type of requests that you receive and what is the turnaround time in order to fulfill those those type of requests yes we have a work order system that we can easily send you you know how many world quarters we receive or we send to our labors every day but we receiving over 26,000 C yearly yearly and 13,000 visitors are visiting our office you know every year but we providing uh our residents with new tools like a lot of people have WhatsApp they love to use WhatsApp we provideed that uh you know auction to Residents so they can send those pictures they can send the send those uh boys uh text and things like that so they loving it and and now we're working with the IT department to get some other tools you know to keep track of the requests that we receive but uh again so are a good number of requests that we receive every day but I know you guys receive all types of requests on average what is the turnaround time to so let me tell you so uh being on honest you cons call and in less than 24 hours you know the request is is being solved but uh some other request you know if they require they require a little a little bit more time so it takes to you know 48 hours or a little bit more maybe month if we need to do some type of procurement or or something like that okay any other questions or comments seeing none uh director will you be going over water and sewer or is that commissioner hail so we have um the commission commissioner here so he's going to go all right commissioner hail you are up next where's Park I thought did we oh we didn't go through that I'm sorry yes yes parking with with the revenue are Mark if you if you receive the um P any documentation from but she's working on it because she's I thought we went over that we can definitely send that to them he didn't do you have he said yeah he said no difference said it's change said 7,000 change 160 160 160 he's still here well let's do let's do I mean it's still DPW let's do parking and then 160 so again to parking to parking we are not adding any new position and uh yeah that's the as today the revenues are are 8 97,7 89 $897,000 789 so you m chair go ahead councelor go ahead counselor so how many unions you have in at d W how many unions unions clerical labors and supervisors three three three or four four oh Carpenters do they got a race I mean do you do they get a race because I know you guys have to negotiate with the Union did they yeah receive one what percentage all the all of our un contracts are settled through 63025 okay yeah we we voted on that um director director can you go over for people watching at home and I know cuz I specifically had one constituent comment on my Facebook on my counselor Facebook page saying that she's trying to learn more about local government and has been tuning in um what is the parking fund what is that used for yeah just go over that so our parking funds includ includes the two garages that we have and the lots and uh so we are right now working on the organization of the Bley garage we did like a transformation we put new equipments there so we did new contracts and we estimating to collect like for the next fiscal year over $600,000 just with Buckley garage and then now we working in in in getting into a museum Square garage and we're going to do the same thing so we going going to uh bring some revenues through the parking uh funds and and with the Lots we're doing the same things we're going to equip them and give bring new equipments and and again so we we trying to transfer our department you know not just to provide services but provide revenues to our budget question uh council president going uh going back to one some of the DPW uh positions and and this question is more like you know around this sent then as as uh elaborating on what councelor uh vice president infant was saying uh about the parking lot the transfer of the DPW um deputy director from the parking lot and garages to the actual Department uh it's probably more like for the cfle is that going to affect the general fund when it comes to getting paid from from the UN fund instead of the parking funds it's like I don't know I mean it should be should stayed on the parking lot funds so we can actually pay from that fund instead of the there's already a parking manager and the there's a parking manager that maintains the Lots in the two garages whereas the deputy DPW director they really need two Deputy directors across the DPW operation if you will besides the garage and the Lots so it didn't make sense to charge one deputy just for parking garages and the other Deputy has 50 building to take care of that doesn't make it make sense no but what I'm saying is essentially if we remove it from the from the parking from the parking lot and garages fund so now we're not going to be able to use those funds to be able to to to pay for that position well the the uh uh the parking uh garage and lots Enterprise fund uh we've been subsidizing The Debt Service on that so we'd like to have them pay their own Debt Service so the more uh more revenues they bring in and the and the uh the more careful they are with their expenses they'll be able to absorb all of that interest uh interest expense that we uh that we spent when we did the Buckley uh me Museum Square garage we spent so essentially what I'm here is that we we have paid for the the service for the for the different we subsidizing Enterprise fund the last few years because they don't have enough revenues to pay for uh their expenses and The Debt Service on that and Museum was a lot more than anybody thought I think it ended up being roughly a $5 million renovation not everybody except for me because I was arguing that that project from the gecko but that's fine that's another conversation but anyway um just just going back to that position specifically since now we're not going to be able to pay the positions out of that and it's going to it's going to come from the general fund so we are creating a new position at the at the DPW even though it's a transfer but we're not going to be able to use those funds so it is technically a new position on the DPW side because the dpws is funded through the general fund and this this department is going to be fund funded uh through the actual uh parking lot parking and lot funds it's different funds so it's not an actual transfer 101 but but it was funded already so we yeah you know is the just to clarify you're correct counselor it's not a it's not a new position but it is an additional uh burden on the general fund if you will but again uh we're hoping to relieve uh if the uh revenues come in for the parking CR we're hoping to relieve transfer some of those uh that interest in principal expense that's incurred by the general fund and transfer it over to the parking Enterprise fund okay hope so essentially is is those funds that we've been paying the Deb service that we pay for the for the project at the different parking lots is that get paid through the DPW budget or does it get paid through the debt service line service line 14 15 million is what we pay a Debt Service and there's shirts because essentially what I'm trying to see is like here perhaps the the DPW uh the DPW director get paid through different accounts so I was wondering if we keep that if we essentially keep that position on the D fund so because essentially is doing work for the for the parking garages fund and maintaining that because he's expecting that at some point th those those funds are not in debt you know I mean perhaps the plan that the DPW director just mentioned is expected to be on the on the positive finally well just you know uh and the museum Square isn't detailed and they I was looking at the debt service py if Museum Square was was separately detailed but it must have been buried in with some other things so it's a municipal purpose loan is all the defin all the description gives me on on page one U 179 uh but we can't charge the expenses to the Enterprise fund uh you know uh Mass general laws require allow us to have Enterprise funds but we can't charge things can't charge a deputy who's not working on the parking and charge to the parking you know same thing with the water the we can't charge things of water unless we're actually providing the service so use it as a revenue Source no no no that's what I'm saying that's not what I meant what I meant is that the depw director is actually been paid on this fund 10% of his salary well wasn't filled before so this is the first time it's filled and uh and and we are that will be paid out of the general fund not the parking fund so it does it is a burden it's an additional position in the general fund but not an additional position to DPW the position was funded funded last year it just wasn't filled gotta all right just want to clarify that we we clear on that that is it's an extra position for that for the DPW even though it was transferred to from the from One Fund to now the DPW fund which is the general fund all right uh director back going back to the positions that you adding for the school department so we start the conversation on that but uh we were waiting for the end and kind of like messed it up and didn't ask you so those position those position that were added that is going to be reimbursed by the by the school department do you mind uh poting it out the bud so I can take some notes you can see I I actually have multiple years budgets and I look at my notes 126 yeah 126 is the page yes so those are these four news yeah it's um two Carpenters again one electrician and one PL and then a PL M yes okay um yes just for the just for the the just for Clarity on on uh on the U on the DPW side um I know that counselors or probably people that have read the budget have also read your position as 651 and 0 25 through different departments and uh if you put it together the the point 65 plus1 and 025 added up to one which is the salary of the DPW director the DPW director is earning a total amount of $28,000 u in in total uh throughout those three departments um just want to make sure that we we clear on that because we always ask that question at the budget section all right no more questions all right say none thank you so much now we have the water and sewer Enterprise fund um commissioner Hill good evening counselors good evening Madam chair um so tonight I have my budget before you it's a proposed amount of 21, 755,000 what page are we on um 169 sorry the amount is the total amount is 2,755 $ 5,899 um and that's an increase of $834,900 39,99 that um for The Debt Service payment that we'll be making this year and then the salaries have increased $217,500 um if you go to page 170 it has the breakdown um for sewer water admin and then our water maintenance operations um so at the top of each column like for Personnel Services it gives you the individual grouping for the salary increases so we have 51,1 153 for sore $1 144,145 for the water admin and then we have $222,222.22 so everything is other than that is level funded we didn't make any changes besides we did eliminate a water Foreman position because we had three of them um so we don't need three we have um one of the foreman now that was promoted he actually got the license we needed we had the additional position a few years ago cuz we were searching for um a licensed operator but now an internal candidate has that license we need so we don't need the um additional position and um with that with that money we added um an administrative assistant um that was um a 25e employee that I promoted um from a Clerk's position um so that basically you know made it a wash for the money so hold on a second so this Administrative Assistant was a promotion from what was a the their former positioner cler principal Clerk what what can you name a few of the responsibilities that you're admin assistant is going to be responsible for sure so it's um like contract um Administration so she puts together some of the contracts for signatures um reaching out to customers for water complaints um if there's um you know bills over um there's a lot of different office duties that she does um was like answering phones setting up appointments for me different things like that she also still does answer phones and helps with um the clerk position that she um um had previously and are you from from your as commissioner you're and I know it's under DPW but essentially you're the one basically running the water and sewer department yes entirely who is under you that helps you not administratively but like operationally and so operationally we have uh Matt howerin he was um promoted to water and store construction supervisor where is that reflected here here it's just level funded it he was a foreman from the Sewer Department okay all right I have to say um commissioner you are doing an incredible job with the Water and Sewer Department um you're actually one of my proudest votes and Personnel that that I've taken in my three years as a counselor um your your your expertise your technical on the floor your education all of all of it is is incredible and um it definitely shows when I call or email you for help and um and every time you refer me to someone else within the department when when you're not available they've been excellent and on the other side the constituents that you guys have helped I've I have not received a complaint so thank you so much and and I'm glad that that you're here in the city of lens thank you uh councelors any comments or or questions council president uh through you m here um couple of things that I want to bring up uh last year we have during the Boer season we have a uh we have it like a in a specific amount of dollars that were not available on the funds that you guys uh went over and kind of like you know perhaps uh the the get uh get uh funded by the general fund uh until we get the free cash back and then we were all set ready to go oh correct remember that greater Sanitary District so that was planned um so our because of the way the um revenues come in with the rate increases we weren't we get um a credit from greater Lawrence Sanitary District which is where we um Prov get our sore treated so when the credit came in then we were able to take the retain earnings out to cover that cost um yes so last year we we we increased the rate uh can you reiterate around that a little bit so we can uh continue the conversation sure so in um 20122 we went to the before Council we had the rates increase um over a 2-year period in six-month increments for a total of 20% so 177% is already reflected in the water bills and then we're going to have a 3% increase this July 1st so that'll be the last increase um for that yes uh so it was a 20% increase for two years and in July we still going to see 3% uh increasement um is that have resulted as a positive impact on the finance of the war department yeah it's definit I mean it dramatically helped us um but because we were 13 years behind without raising rates um that did a lot of damage so it's not like we're in excellent shape our revenues are meeting our expenses so we really want to have um reserves left over at the end of the year is the goal so are you expecting any reserved um so last year we underspent our budget by like a million clal a million dollar so we're looking through everything to Crunch the numbers to get it as close as possible um we should have a Reser a small reserve this year but right now we have about we're we're putting out $7 million in bills we have 30 days to collect that from June 1st to June 30th to reflect for this fiscal year and um are you are you expecting like how much I'm reserved so we have um roughly 1.8 million in our um fund right now that we after we made the transfer um so you know we'll have that and then we're projected to meet our expenses right now so we will still have whatever we have in the bank at the moment so the water insur account per year like how much money uh people pays for Ur uh a year in a and a good close number for for us um a home or you saying the total amount total so the total amount is the revenues um so you know we projected around 20 21,700 66,000 was a projection and I think it goes up 3% in July all right so since we starting building up a little more on our on our reserve and essentially I'm assuming that you guys going to be able to fund my project uh through increasing the Deb service assumption obviously um are we expecting to to to see any uh rate increasement on the within the next 5 years yes we would in five years absolutely so the next time around when we do it though it'll be more strategic so we're we we have plans in place so we're running a model we actively run the model so we just worked on it it's a constant model that we run um to predict the future as best as we can um but we we plan to do a tiered structure where the large industrial users would pay more for more consumption versus the single family homes um something similar to other communities that makes it more fair yeah uh you you you planning on using uh perhaps uh the just commercial or users so there would be a tier so if a if a f if a single family went over a certain tier the rates would go up but the tiers would be spread out where if you use water you know responsibly then you shouldn't hit that tier that's the whole goal of it can you show us the potential model that we might use in the near future yeah we can go over it at a council meeting if You' like sure yeah I think that that will be uh proactive to talk about that now sure and essentially once we we have uh the potential increasement we know what we're talking about how we're going to SP it sure one thing I did find that is in the city ordinance already is there's um I don't have the number with me but um a sore ordinance that states that um we have to set a user fee um to maintain the infrastructure Beyond just the water and soore um rates for usage so that's something that I will bring to you to the full Council no problem thank you so much Mia council is on um thank you commissioner it's the first time that I hear the word promotion during this meetings and I just wanted uh ask you some questions around that uh for the first thank you for what that you do um so do you uh have to advertise the position before doing a promotion yes okay and if you no one applies you promote is that how it works or no I'm confused I would go with the best candidate you go with the best candidate yeah do they apply for the the position they have to apply I'm just trying to clarify something yes the person the person um was promoted applied for the position appli for it but you selected someone from your own team correct and gave them the opportunity I just wish that other uh directors take that as an example and I'm assuming you took in consideration the time that they had and the experience that they had in the department I'm assuming because you chose the best candidate okay thank you for doing that I just hope that other directors uh in other departments can take that as an example there's people in your own departments that need an opportunity and they have experience to do the job so I just want to put that out there thank you so much commissioner welcome counil so I believe any other comments or questions um I believe that wraps up the entire DPW including Water and Sewer Department thank you so much commissioner and thank you to director Hyman for all you do as well um thank I appreciate the work you do um next up we have last but not least ISD inspectional services uh director Matos and our newly confirmed ISD director Ruiz good evening counselors It's always a pleasure to come before you um just to kind of preface uh the uh Department of uh similar to the other parts of my department uh we are a kind of unique in the sense that we're uh Revenue generating Department in this case uh the funding that we generate goes back to to the general fund um and so the positions are not only critical from the point of view of Public Safety in terms of Code Enforcement building and health and serve a vital function in terms of maintaining the population of the city uh healthy and safe and monitoring for example constructions uh through inspections um we also uh take the funds that we collect through a variety of different types of fees and assist the city with being able to pay the rest of the bills as well um the only major uh change to last year's uh budget is that we are looking to enhance that capacity uh through an enforcement prosecutor uh what page are we on excuse me what page are we on uh I'm speaking in 88 thank you it starts at page 88 uh 91 93 95 and 97 there are approximately six uh departments within inspectional Services um I was just going over some of the quick highlights uh so what as I was mentioning um one of the areas that we're looking uh in this budget is to increase uh the amount of revenues that we collect for the city and not let uh some folks that have been getting away with not paying uh for certain things um through the enforcement prosecutor position uh this is a position that the council has already approved um and we're looking uh for that position to pay generally for itself because it will be going to the court and collecting fees and funding that uh has been owed to the city for a very long time what position was this again this is the uh enforcement prosecutor okay that they would be going to the courts all right let's take this one by one um who's going to be doing the presentation you or or director R the newly Meed uh director will do most of the presentation I will be here supporting okay director uh good evening Madam chair good evening president counselors okay um so uh uh give you a quick summary um director U MOS already um some some of it up but you know inspectional Services uh we have six departments uh that we have the inspectional services admen code enforcement building inspectors weights and measures uh public health and the licensing board um uh I will highlight some of the uh changes from last year uh if you have any questions feel to interrupt me um can we start can we just go over same with the other departments let's just start at at page 80 889 and 90 the inspectional services admin uh budget yes so um as director MOS um um stated uh you know we're looking for a co uh enforcement prosecutor uh right now we in trash we've collected 90 ,000 code violation is about 55,000 we're losing a lot of money cuz when we go to court um many uh the inspectors uh they go that they're not unprepared um they're not um issuing the tickets um the way they're supposed to so um that's why this uh enforcement Prosecuting uh position it's going to pay for for itself U as you see the numbers it's you know it's already uh collected 145,000 to to uh year to date um so uh for the assistant I mean for the salary so the city uh recategorized all salaries the salaries for the director assistant director and building Commissioners um we we were increased by 4,800 uh ISD director 24,000 assistant director 21,000 no 4,000 um I'm sorry uh director 4,800 um and uh assistant U 24,000 and and build a commission of 21,000 um there's also two clerks there um so they are going to be per uh per the Union contract uh we're going to be um getting rid of the senior clerks and they're all going to be principal clerks and that's the difference they have I think 13,000 I think let me let me stop you right there for a sec um CFO what is the salary range for the ISD director under the the Collins report so the the oh do you have or do you have that did you come prepared director the first director who has who has this information uh the director uh is a range of 819 to 1248 81 I'm sorry can you repeat that 819 to 1248 okay and then the uh although it's it's labeled assistant uh ISD director or something the official title is which was just um approved by the city council a few months ago is assistant Commissioner of Health and code services and that's a range of 637 to 104 637 to 104 okay um the reason why I asked and this is something I brought up last budget hearing as well um particularly the last year's example was with the grant manager that we recently hired I believe she was hired like either a month or a few weeks prior to to the budget hearing um the salary that we have now for the ISD director it is within range you just started I don't believe this this position should should get a raise I think you you should prove yourself and then um next year you know get the cap get the get the max of the salary range um that's my personal opinion it's nothing to do with you personally like I said I mentioned this last year as well um yeah yeah I just don't um so just to um say um so I you know I've been with the city 36 years um also um I was the director of inspectional Serv services for four years uh I have the experience and the training and I believe that I should get the fullow amount that's how you advocate for yourself of course uh I still I still think what I think but I'm glad you advocated for yourself and I and I appreciate that I respect that counselors any questions or comments for the admin portion of inspectional services uh yes madame chair councilor Lon the new the uh assistant director of istd yes so I'm the C said that they changed the name it's technically assist technically assistant Commissioner of Health and code servic assistant commissioning of health and code Services that's the ordinance position title so we'll make a change in the budget for next year make sure that update that title assistant Commissioner of Health assistant Commissioner of Health and code services and this person was not hired by director Ruiz or it was it was approved by I don't think we um no um I I haven't hired um that position but um we have someone that was appointed as acting to do that position and who uh who's that person uh Victor Banes Banes and oh okay another newcomer um I'm sorry uh director Ruiz so is this person like your Deputy direct yeah you could call it that well he be more so we we have like three div know three sections in in inspectional Services we have the building side um the the health code side then we have the Board of Health so he he would be uh in charge of all all of the Board of Health um people and health health code inspectors I'm assuming that you took the time to review his his resume how for how long he has been doing this type of job um so he's been doing it since since I I've been there um I just want to say he is you know he is doing a a good job no I'm asking about the experience not about oh um I haven't seen the resume because um he was hired you know around the same time I was or maybe before he was working there previously yes yes he's a health code inspector yes so he has the experience working as health code inspector he's been working in the department prior to another I'm aware of that Mr Matos I just want an answer from the director so the people that are watching the video are become aware of the new position and who's is actually there now yes so this person was working for the department since when um maybe Ember December 13 uh 2021 okay and he was appointed by mayor depa yes okay other questions youa counselor um thank you madam chair let me thank you thank you director Ru questions or comments I have a question the the salary of the well this is for the CF and I know we've said this so many times but my head I have so much information in my head right now acting any acting positions they get the salary of of the actual position correct any acting Personnel no they generally have to start they they're not able to go uh they have to start at the minimum and if they have uh I believe the ordinance says if they have a good qualif appliations you can go up to the mid-range uh and and after 6 months they can go higher okay so so there's a restriction as to any acting position they can't go to the top of the range got it so the $24,000 increase in this salary will be for whomever the department or the the the director hires um well that's just what the that's just the position was budgeted $80,000 last last year and it's budgeted at 104,000 this year which is at the top of the range um because I think there was some confusion as to what the range actually was so I think they thought they it was in the mid-range but that's really at the top of the range 104 okay so this should be so this should reflect the mid-range do you have that that specific number have it here the math see that was uh the mid-range would be uh 83850 8 3 850 okay thank you any other questions or comments can you repeat the r Madam chair 83850 83 850 all right uh continuing to code enforcement director Ruiz so Court enforcement um there's no changes from last year okay building inspection uh Building Inspections there's some some increases to uh to inspectors contractual salary increase um there's a stip overtime stien for building officials that uh it was also contractual um they put in 10,000 but it should be 7,00 17,43 and uh the clothing allowance was uh they were allowed at 3600 it should be 48 according to the contract as you know um I just started like a couple months ago so I'm I'm new to this so I came in late to the game so um so this is just what I saw you know when I what I could figure out from from the contract and everything look at the contract okay well look at the whole looking at the department and hold contracts and everything Council has any questions or comments U council president yes quick question on the on the uh buildings Building Division is that supervisor meant to be the commissioner so the the from the building inspection it's it's um per Master General law The Building Commissioner is in charge of the building is is it reflected on here he's on he's on the admin oh yeah got him got no question okay all right weights and measures uh weights and measures um there's only one change it's a contractual salary increase of 8,896 all right and then we have uh um Public Health Public Health um we have uh a board member salary increase of 10,000 that's for the for the doctor uh we have um one salary increase 6,217 for contractual change for senior clerk to principal clerks so all the senior clerks are now principal clerks um per uh from what I hear from from per Union you know negotiations I guess right yeah CA okay okay um we have uh what we have one nurse and then we have one vacant position for the nurse I believe that's it so one vacant position for the nurse yeah we have two two in the budget and one one's vacant and do we have a city physician yes uh do uh we have the Board of Health will be theor doctor got it that's the $10,000 increase to the doctor C does that number make sense uh the city physician only any City physici a $30,000 salary it's not a full-time position it's just U he's a consultant but it was just in front of the council just a few uh probably six weeks ago four to 6 weeks ago to increase the salary from 20 to 30,000 that's right and Dr Goran came and explained yep that's right that's right thank you licensing board director um licensing board um there's no uh no no changes there okay and the licensing board you have one coordinator board members get a stip in yes okay so right now that we have one vacant um the chair we need to get one more person in there uh we have two okay um all right councelor is any that's it for your department correct yes have a big question director um council president thank you Madame chair just a few questions on the on the uh on the B on first on the I'm going to go to the U uh b h uh we receive an application um that of of of a registered nurse that wanted to serve uh on the bot Hall uh I believe several members of the council received it if not probably everybody I'm I'm sorry can you receive what a a bol uh in in person that present interest to serve on the B oh yes yes so coun so we have three three positions um uh per the chter uh for uh three board members in their field right now we have two doctors sure if if the council would just forward that to us we'll make the recommendation and see if uh they could be appointed uh based does that mean it it could be more than three uh I'm not sure whether it could possibly be more than three but right now I think that we' three but because of the fact that the forums become a little bit difficult as you saw in some of the other boards there are alternates so we could potentially do like an alternate situation like we do with the other board I will forward you that director Matos uh this individual was actually very very articulate very thorough um and has the qualifications according to the resume so yeah she aen a register nurse and uh I mean I think that will be a great answer to the to the board Heth yeah thank you uh when it comes to the health the health department again we have a big big big big um issue a couple of month ago not for that for years we we've been having this issue and uh and now I think that we're getting we're getting to the point that that at least we can start thinking about emphasizing and prioritizing the department um obviously we have uh we have several uh issues when it comes to you know taking care of things uh at the department and and um and kind of like you know being scared a little bit of of of what might happen I think that if we work together and work proactively and I believe you guys uh will be able to do so we we can accomplish a lot of a lot a lot of good results for the community uh with that said talking to the B talking about the water Hall the health department and also the inspections when it comes to the foot inspections um that it is it is been concern uh it is been a lot of concern to me um seeing uh things what's going on around different places um and places that serve uh a prepared food uh lately since I joined the council 2015 uh I have seen a tremendous amount of uh Foot Truck an increasement on foot trucks uh on the streets as a matter of fact I have seen even a a a school BS yes that's a foot truck it's a foot truck it's huge it's like so um so I'm aware of this problem um and uh right now we're trying to um draft a an ordinance to change some of the Ys change the uh I've been I've been researching um Cambridge um and Sommerville they have really good um food truck ordinances so I'm I'm researching that to um to make sure that um we change that and you know when they when they build the trucks they build them to the specs that we want um right now there's nothing you know in in the in the in the code that says rules of regulations that says you know what type of trucks we could have you know all they all they could do is you know get a a food license a propane license from the fire department uh electrical um inspection and then you know they go out on on the street I know they you know there they're parking you know for hours in one spot they're supposed to move I believe every 30 minutes I think or hour so there's a lot of issues with them and you know we are we are U we we are addressing it and you know we will address it okay I mean obviously to for you to be able to address it you either need to come late or do something about it there is a plan for that yes right yeah so um the the plan is either to you know have um inspectors work at night you know maybe take the day off in the day or work at night or or pay them overtime that's the only way that we can do it cuz they're out late as far as we have a plan that's fine but going back to when I joined the council back in 2015 and then 16 17 17 a change in the ordinance was presented to us and and and that was pretend to be good but obviously seeing the result of it is not a good thing before we have the transient vendor coming in front of us and the food truck every year they need to come in front of us before they come in front of the city council they tend to do more inspections and tend to do more things on the trucks for the natural of the F that they're going to go in front of the council and questions were raised was what question we ask but therefore a lot of a lot of things get fixed now what I'm hearing is that those foot trucks that you know there are great amount of people working on that uh they providing a service to a group of people that we understand we all have eat from there but I mean I think that the only time that they getting an inspection is when they actually open the food truck U no that's not true um so they come in they have to renew the license every year and so they get they have to renew the their food permit every year they have to get renew their uh Hawkers and pedor license every year um and then they also get inspected by the fire department and uh and the food inspectors let me ask you a quick question I don't want to be rude yes um because it's not in personal but have we think about how they they cook I mean where do they go to the bathroom where do they clean their hands when they go to the bathroom if they go to the bathroom for 8 hours perhaps 6 hours I don't want to exaggerate where around the park they have I know they have a sink in the in the trucks they do have a sink where they go to bathroom I don't know I couldn't answer that and if they watch their hands on their sick that they cook that's a potential salmonella yeah I understand I don't want to be rude trust me I know yeah I know and I not pretend to be we've all eaten but we have we have to think about that like seriously so you know right now you know we have um a person that's uh is is a uh certified chef and she knows um the industry very well so I'm sorry who is this can you repeat this we we have we have we have a certified Chef um and she knows that the food hold you know from front to back how long has she been here uh she's with the Grant and we're hoping to hopefully you know keep her she uh she's a wealth of knowledge and um she's training one of the other persons too so we have two now so going back to the ordinance that we changed back in 2017 I think that we will be good to bring that portion of the permit the transient vendom portion of the permit to come back to city council MH so we can have more a little bit more uh I mean for somehow one way or another that was not that many before and now we every every night every night during the weekend it look like a foot a foot truck park around around that H Street so what what's lacking also is that in the past when people come in for like a a building permit we're supposed to have a wraparound meeting with everybody to make sure everybody's on the same page um when you do a food permit they're supposed to come in have a meeting you know have a meeting a wraparound meeting then we explain all the rules of Regulation um so there's there's a lot of things like that that's lacking that we're going to instill put in place yeah the last thing what I I want to appre today what what happened on the food truck but the last the last thing we the last thing I'm seen uh that it was very well push and request when they come where they were coming in front of the council for the transction vendor is that they need to have an specific place for garage the those those Vehicles now I'm seeing it everywhere on different locations uh just because they're commercial during the weekends they stays where they actually serve the food until actually they move and when the move to just pick up the food where they going to where they going to go and pick them up usually on Water Street uh on dou I mean there is places that is being used as an industrial uh uh cook place place so it's like it's it's all a little concern on every aspect of the of the of the business yeah and you know we got to do a better job in monitoring that and you know going after them and and you keeping a handle on what they're doing I appreciate that you guys have a plan for to address that this issue director I have two comments um one um one is actually it's it's started off as as a not so good story but ended as as a good story um but the food Trust the amount of food trucks in the city I had a situation I believe it was last summer I want to say last summer where there was a food truck uh parked on South Broadway that was not supposed to be there uh essentially after further research there were a few um uh permits that they they needed they did not obtain it because they didn't pass what what they needed to do but they still went and and opened anyways um I I want to say Mike from I and officer aelo yes were both on top of the that situation and they helped me and we squared that out and it was a mic was tremendous it was Mike and someone else it was there was a woman too um what's her name what's her name Pam hm P an is new no um what is her name I forget her name but I have I have her name on my email but there were there were two I'll get you that name because I I want I want you to know the other individual as well but they did a tremendous job um also also in my 3 years here food's trucks have been brought up this is the first time at least that I'm hearing the three within the three years that you guys are working on the plan it took to bring two new directors and I am proud to say my my proudest vote was Voting against the former ISD director um I did not think he was qualified and that's a one of my proudest proudest votes and um this issue was brought up to him several times nothing happened and now we have two new directors and you guys are getting things done and I look forward to seeing the the the ordinance that you guys bring forward to the council so thank you for that yeah and whatever the council's need I've helped a few already um you know right away within so all you do is call and we'll take if I can't take it the staff will take care of it and I'll make sure it gets done personally yeah the staff uh I I have not um had an extreme bad bad situation when when I need a help um so I'm I'm very appreciative and I know it's I I know that department has been in shambles for a few and I know you guys are doing what you can so um thank you for the work entire department we'll get it there any other comments or questions counselors one council president one last thing I would like to U uh make sure that when it comes to institutional knowledge uh around the the health department that we we make sure that we take care of those of those people uh I have brought up in specific names to you I don't want to bring it up here but I want to make sure that that that institutional knowledge is value and is respected yes and protected by the city because it is at the end of the day it is a protection for the citizens and uh I don't want to bring that a specific case but you know what I'm talking about I mean was and and I think it's important that we protect and uh those institutional knowledge and as well as uh and promote and incentivate others to be similar because at the end of the day it's is the city of L residents that are that might be affected or benefit yes by it thank you yeah we spoke about it and we take care of it and so I see that the assistant director is here to the assistant director I wish you the best of luck and I know as an inspector you did help me and my constituents tremendously and I hope that that type of work continues um but I don't know I can only speak for myself but ISD is one of the Departments that I'm going to be closely watching because it's it's been it it needs it needs a support it needs Improvement so I hope that you guys continue the work I just want to say we're also working with um with dph uh I I spoke with um Mike Hugo and some other Board of Health U people so U we're going to get we're going to get back on chart thank you mad um counc counc to yeah you you have to yeah oh H thank you Madame chair through you Madame chair thank you director Ruiz um it's good to have you here thank you it's good to have you here it's it's giving me hope uh and just want to put out there for the people that are watching unfortunately every time I I I hear a a director present the budget we come across the same practice uh and don't take this person because you just got here uh but we come across the same practice uh the mayor uh mayor Brian depa sends someone from his office to the Department and I'm not going to speak to the experience to this particular case because we're giving him an opportunity uh well the mayor is giving him an opportunity and we Echo that but unfortunately we see the same practice in every Department uh the Mayors uh uh appointed uh he appoints someone uh and sometimes that person doesn't have the experience that you may have in your teen already but there's people there working for years giving the best for the city and they're not taking in consideration nothing against the new uh assistant director but the practice and the process is wrong we need to take in consideration the people that already have the experience and they're already there willing to walk the extra mile unfortunately no opportunity is given to them so I wish you the best of luck and thank you for all that you're doing and just to add to the comment the about the food trucks I personally know that they doing they are doing inspections they also uh they doing a lot of work they're there doing the best that they can uh and I just hope that uh you bring with your expertise and yes the new director assistant director can bring the department to a new level thank you I will thank you think before I I hand the floor to council president CFO I I believe for the last three days the the main theme to to go back with is uh Personnel salary practices um process Pro processes and and practices um I I believe this this this committee has felt strongly about that overall so just something to keep in mind for the future council president it sure uh we have an issue that we need to address and I would like to bring this up now in public because I mean uh it's it's been few years and I know that if you guys uh take over it will help uh tremendously uh as far as I know I'm know hold on a second as far as I believe uh there is a huge issue around Water Street uh on the lower side of Water Street there is a a a a problem that anywhere between 230 to to 530 or six a huge am a tremendous smell uh to fishes come out of out of that lower side of of Water Street and the entire section of that area going all the way to marav vaska the project and all those places around there uh they they get to smell it uh I have a I might I might think that's what what happened there around one of those business around there that deal with that situation kind of like I maybe something doing something that is not quite legal I don't know but for the last 3 4 years I've been dealing with complaints and after complaints and complaints and people people get getting used to it but that's that's very very sad that and and that's that could potentially make people sick uh the liable condition around there uh can people can stay leing around there because of the smell so I talked to the water and soore Department about that uh they told me something but I think that having a thought a thoughtful investigation around that not necessarily dealing with the sewer but perhaps inspections on businesses around okay uh that I I doing something wrong during that specific time in the afternoon early afternoon starting like around 2 um my might produce result and uh and then bring some quality of life to those people what I can do is I can set up a team with with Victor in command and uh we could canvas the area and inspect everything and see what we could find thank you I appreciate it thank you any other questions or comments I was try to look for the name of the individual quickly well council president was I didn't find it quick enough so any other questions or comments see and none thank you so much director yeah thank you coun have a great night can I uh can I have a motion to re us motion made by C seconded by Council marmal those in favor say I I and the eyes have it thank you so much e