Ordinance and Administration Committee

RECEIVED By Ellie at 12:25 pm, 4/7/21 AMESBURY CITY HALL 62 Friend Street Amesbury, MA 01913 City Council Ordinance Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday February 16, 2021 Virtual meeting This meeting was conducted under the ‘Executive Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law G.L. c.30A, §20’, signed on March 12, 2020. The public can view this meeting on ACTV Channel 12, the ACTV website, or ACTV’s Facebook page. Public comment was made available by email ahead of time. Councilor Mandeville called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM Roll Call was taken and present were: Atty. Johnson, Councilor Lennon, Councilor Rinaldi, Atty. Raffa, and Councilor Mandeville. Minutes for approval: January 19, 2021 Councilor Lennon motioned to continue the approval of January 19, 2021 Ordinance Committee minutes until the next Ordinance Committee meeting on March 16, 2021. This motion was seconded by Councilor Rinaldi. Roll call was taken, 5 out of 5 members yes. Motion passed. 2021-039  Angela Cleveland gave an overview of the order and some changes: o Removing archaic references, for example, there was a reference to a committee that no longer exists o Added a planning board member and herself (Director of the Office of Community and Economic Development) o Clarified how Ad Hoc member(s) are put together, and brought in or out the full committee based on the property that’s in question. o Finding ways to make it more current, cleaning up outdated references and making a more realistic timeline  Councilor Lennon asked to clarify some items: o There will consistently be a city councilor who is on that committee and then there will be an at large councilor from the district that the committee is needed in.  She stated that in her opinion the committee either has an at large councilor to consistently serve so that a district councilor can be selected when needed or the committee is pigeon-holing themselves if it is a district councilor consistently serving on the committee o She referred to the statement, “up to three people who have interest in the property” saying she would like to see the positions defined on who and why they are appointed as a member of the committee.  Angela Cleveland commented on how she is open for a review after the first year of having this plan in place to analyze and adapt if needed.  Chairman Mandeville commented on the two City Councilors noted in the plan. He said the language should be amended to give better identification as to who the councilors are. He said  the language should not make it mandatory for the plan to use one at large councilor and one district councilor, this would allow for better accommodation of one councilor in the district in question and one outside of the district in question, depending on the property’s location.  Angela Cleveland confirmed Chairman Mandeville’s comment by explaining: o There should be two councilors in the committee, one that is in the district in question and one outside of the district, but not identifying if they a district councilor or a councilor at large.  Councilor Lennon commented on how the committee has the appointees of the planning board and the council members having to serve as liaisons back to both the planning board and the City Council. She recommended the language state “moving district councilor or other into core membership”. o Being so, the councilor in the district in question will be able to be the liaison for the district the disposition is in and the councilor outside of the district can be the liaison for the City Council.  Attorney Raffa informed Angela Cleveland about a few references to the board of selectman that need editing. o She also suggested to move the duties of the chair under officer’s duties as well as to add in the duties of the vice chair. o She suggested to make clear the abutter is the property owner and not a tenant of the property.  Council Wheeler shared concerns about having an abutter (defined as: anyone with a principal residence or business within 300 ft. of the site) be a required member on the committee. o It was suggested that the abutter be changed to “neighborhood representative”  Councilor Wheeler noted the committee at full complement needs to equate to an odd number.  Chairman Mandeville noted: o The language should state that the Ad Hoc members are appointed per site and are dismissed upon completion of deposition. o “Abutter” should be changed to “neighborhood representative” inside the district but not an abutter. o Instead of “three people with interest in the site” alter it to read “three people with demonstrated expertise appropriate to the project being done”  Councilor Stanganelli noted that he recommends: o That the city council member that is part of the core committee be designated as an at large member. o That one of the members of the core committee being the Director of the Office of Community and Economic Development also include “or its successor”. Councilor Lennon motioned to return order 2021-039 back to City Councilor with a positive recommendation with regards to the comments made about appointment, membership, Ad Hoc membership, along with necessary changes from the board of selectman. This motion was seconded by Attorney Raffa. Roll call was taken, 5 out of 5 members yes. Motion passed.  Clarity around definition of councilor at large and/or district councilor and their roles.  Defining “person with interest in the property” in more depth, and why they are there.  Rephrasing types members within Ad Hoc committee (e.g. historic commission member, environmental committee, neighborhood representative, etc.)  Make sure full memberships equate to odd number. 2021-040  Angela Cleveland stated that due to the pandemic this fell through the cracks and is necessary for the realignment of that intersection.  Angela Cleveland turned the floor over to Liz Olton from TEC where she explained this is a reassignment of land from the city owned landfill property to the city owned South Hunt Road right of way. This would make the side walk that has been constructed be in the public right of  way instead of the city owned landfill. This is to ensure if the landfill property changes owners in the future, this sliver of land will be protected for the City. Councilor Lennon motioned to return order 2021-040 to City Council with a positive recommendation. Councilor Rinaldi seconded this motion. Roll call was taken, 5 out of 5 members yes. Motion passed. Councilor Lennon motioned to adjourn. Councilor Rinaldi seconded this motion. Roll call was taken, 5 out of 5 members yes. Motion passed. Adjourn, 7:54PM Respectfully submitted, Ellie Andersen March 10, 2021