City Council

METHUEN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 @ 7:00 P.M. GREAT HALL, SEARLES BUILDING Chair Faretra called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present: Clr. Beauregard, Clr. Campagnone, Clr. DiZoglio, Clr. Marsan, Clr. Soto, Clr. Valley, and Chair Faretra. Councilor Saffie was absent Acceptance of the Agenda MOTION BY: Councilor DiZoglio, seconded by Councilor Pesce to accept the agenda. UPON VOTE: 8 yes, 1 absent (Clr. Saffie) Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation/Moment of Silence Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance and remained standing for a Moment of Silence in honor of Theresa Haneffant. Vice-Chair Soto read a quote from Abraham Lincoln. Organizational Business: None Public Participation Mike Welch, 8 Nelson Avenue, said he sent out emails with handouts given to previous Councilors as well as new documents. He has been asking questions as to how Temple Drive could be accepted but not Jade Street or Nelson Avenue. The extension of Temple Drive was accepted. He highlighted the pdf and sent them out a second time. It is a safety issue especially when there are six high school students trying to walk and a car on the roadway. He is pleading with the city to accept the road. He explained there are 372 differences between DOT and Methuen. He would like to offer some guidelines going forward noting he has a spreadsheet showing results. Jennifer Loiselle, Activity’s Co-Ordinator at the Senior Center extended an invitation to a Centennial Birthday Celebration on February 21, 2024, for Violet Jessell and Tuffic Natem. Celebration begins at 10:00 a.m. and lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. Reading and Acceptance of Minutes from Previous Meetings: January 4, 2024 regular meeting MOTION BY: Councilor DiZoglio, seconded by Councilor Pesce to approve. UPON VOTE: 8 yes, 1 absent (Clr. Saffie) Proclamations/Correspondence: None Consideration of Appointments: None Presentations/Projects/Department Updates: None 1 METHUEN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 @ 7:00 P.M. GREAT HALL, SEARLES BUILDING Mayor’s Report Mayor Perry thanked Marc Jordan for cleaning up the trash between Chick Fila and Target. They will keep an eye on the area. The Mayor said he would share the ARPA projects with the Council. He reported there are important measures to address Mental Health issue but not every action is on the agenda. There are several. The city had to go out to bid, according to Chapter 30B, but the outcome should be Care Solace. Some personnel related actions to expand CARE reach and capability are on the agenda tonight and some fall into the bucket of execution. The Mayor spoke of funding for Merrimack Valley Prevention and Substance Abuse Project, a group getting the word out. Police Officers are the driving enforcement and execution piece. These are necessary if we are going to get a handle on this. Chair Faretra said he would like to see a meeting with the ARPA coordinator and the Arlington neighborhood on that project. Mayor Perry said the city received a civil rights complaint for several areas. As part of the agreement he will send out a press release and invite the public to attend. The public hearing is to go over the details. The public hearing will be advertised in the Tribune, on the website, and social media. This is part of the settlement for the civil rights complaint. The public hearing will allow the public to weigh in. there will be six ADA parking places with the sign closer to the school. Solicitor Rossetti explained there will also be a reverse 911 to inform residents of the public hearing. There were no violations. A complaint was filed with early action mediation. Chair Faretra announced a date for the public hearing on January 29, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. Councilor Campagnone asked for an update on Day’s Inn. Mayor Perry reported Day’s Inn remains being used as a shelter by the state. They are not paying fines. The city will go to court to get renumeration. He expressed his frustration with the Governor. Desse has funded students $500,000 but there is no additional funding for additional police, fire, or EMTs. The city is running four ambulances on any given day and does not include health inspector. We will need to go to court. He has written several notes to the Governor and urged Councilors to reach out and demand. People say the Inn is full of migrants. There are homeless there as well and many children. CAFO Report • Summary of Free Cash (Request of Councilor Soto) CAFO Duprey noted municipal financing is new to some Councilors. she has given them a place to go, under Budget and Finance, where there are monthly financial reports and historical information. They try to update this information monthly. It goes back for years. Real time reports vs. delay will be available soon, located under the transparency section. This is an excellent resource on municipal fiancé for new official on a cyclable basis. She will email the link to Council. 2 METHUEN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 @ 7:00 P.M. GREAT HALL, SEARLES BUILDING Requests of Councilors Update on Lodging Tax (Clr. DiZoglio) CAFO Duprey indicated she sent Council a detailed email today and will go through the information at the next Council meeting. She spoke of the lodging noting that some points do not apply to Methuen and will email the full Council. Councilor DiZoglio said the community impact fee is 0-3% and questioned at what point is it living at hotels. CAFO Duprey responded it is not applicable at any time. That is the way it reads. Councilor DiZoglio read an excerpt from the email and commented the state is circumventing their own laws. He does not see option 6 as an option. Councilor Pesce asked if there are any laws that could turn a hotel/motel into a rental facility. CAFO Duprey explained that is where her question to the state came from. “What is happening with us as far as when that changes?” Solicitor Rossetti said he will have to look further at the general laws. Councilor DiZoglio said Day’s Inn is no longer accepting outside individuals and is acting like a residential renting to the state. It is not open to the public. CAFO Duprey said she anticipates a response to be they are a lodging. She is not sure how they will handle this. • Update on City Payments as a Result of Judgements and Monetary Settlements per TR-21- 1 (Request of Clr. Saffie) Solicitor Rossetti indicated he has been in touch with Councilor Saffie to update. He is waiting on two settlements. • Update on ARPA (Request of Councilor Beauregard) - done • Update regarding the Merrimack Street corridor (Request of Councilor Beauregard) Chair Faretra asked the Mayor if Jack Wilson could provide an update at the next Council meeting. • Update of Discovery Session on Public Safety Building – Mayor Perry indicated a new facility in Lawrence is going to cost six million dollars. He would like to have a public forum to solicit from the people where a good place would be to have it. Unless Methuen is happy to buy specific size equipment to fit the current buildings. The fire and police chief tell him we must do something. The Mayor mentioned putting together a 300th anniversary committee for the city. • Update on Trash from Health Department ref: Target and Chic Fila (Councilor DiZoglio) Mayor Perry indicated if Chick Fila or Target is causing the trash issue, the city could cite them. 3 METHUEN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 @ 7:00 P.M. GREAT HALL, SEARLES BUILDING • Discussion on Snow Emergency Procedure (Req. of Chair Faretra) Chair Faretra said he received complaints a couple of weeks ago as far as ticketing vs. towing. He asked if DPW has the right to call in a tow. Then there are one or two cars left behind and they only get a ticket. Public Service: Grants: None Licenses: None Contract(s): C-24-41 The Aulson Company, Inc., 49 Danton Drive, Methuen, MA 01844 for Asbestos Abatement for Police Department in the Amount of $61,455.00 MOTION BY: Councilor DiZoglio, seconded by Councilor Campagnone to approve. UPON VOTE: 8 yes, 1 absent (Clr. Saffie) Other Officers and Committee Reports Chair Faretra passed the gavel to Vice-Chair Soto. He reported the next meeting of the Recreation… will be Wednesday, February 7th at 6:30 p.m. He, Representative Hamilton, and Steve Angleo will discuss state funding, list of properties owned by the city, and private projects such as the basketball courts. Unfinished Business Resolutions: None Ordinances: None New Business: Resolutions: TR-24-1 A Resolution to Initiate the Process of Filling the Open Position of Assistant City Council Clerk (Requested by Councilor Beauregard) MOTION BY: Councilor Campagnone, seconded by Councilor Soto to approve for first read. Councilor Beauregard explained this is budgeted for FY’24. This would be an opportunity to add to Council staff and hopefully ensure all informational knowledge is preserved long term. This is a mechanism to open the process, form a committee, and see where it goes. UPON VOTE: 8 yes, 1 absent (Clr. Saffie) 4 METHUEN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 @ 7:00 P.M. GREAT HALL, SEARLES BUILDING TR-24-2 Resolution authorizing the submission of a home rule petition to amend the maximum allowable age of special police officers of the City of Methuen Request of Mayor and Chief McNamara) MOTION BY: Councilor Campagnone, seconded by Councilor Valley to approve. Councilor Marsan Charter Objected TR-24-3 Resolution to Appropriate funds of $60,000 from the Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund to Hire Two Patrol Officers (Request of Chief McNamara) MOTION BY: Councilor Campagnone, seconded by Councilor Valley to approve. Chief McNamara explained a couple of years ago he made a case of staffing needs. According to data put out nationwide by the Department of Justice there should be two police officers per thousand residents. One hundred and six is where we should be. Solicitor Rossetti noted a majority vote of the full Council is required for this vote. Mayor Perry explained these are two additions to put on the drug task force where we have minimal coverage. They are looking at grants to sustain this. But the city has not had good luck in finding a grant coordinator. CAFO Duprey agreed the goal is to obtain a grant. Chief McNamara said originally, he asked for eight, then modified it to four, but did not get four. Councilor DiZoglio commented he should have gotten four last time. He is in favor of this today going forward. UPON VOTE: 8 yes, 1 absent (Clr. Saffie) TR-24-4 Resolution to Appropriate funds of $60,000 from the Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund to Hire Two Emergency Medical Technicians (Request of Chief Sheehy) MOTION BY: Councilor Campagnone, seconded by Councilor DiZoglio to approve. Chief Sheehy explained there is a shortage of EMTs and with the opioid crisis they can barely keep up with three ambulances. Sometimes they have run short with the third ambulance because of the shortage. North Andover, Lawrence, and Andover call for help, Methuen must go. It is the right thing to do. Fire based EMTs are hurting. He is going to look for four more to even out the groups. Overtime would still be there if somebody is out. Overtime runs itself. At the end of the year, sometimes they are short. They really need positions. Councilor DiZoglio commented the impact is taking someone when the rig goes out. Chief Sheehy said there are twenty-four to thirty calls per day. They have three ambulances. Councilor DiZoglio noted this is a crisis for public safety, waiting on Lawrence General to take a call. There are three people per ambulance. Chief Sheehy explained there are eight and it is not always going to be Lawrence General. They have private EMTs and have a problem with the employees. Methuen is doing both trying to generate funds. Councilor DiZoglio said with the winter season he wants to make sure the fire department is fully staffed. 5 METHUEN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 @ 7:00 P.M. GREAT HALL, SEARLES BUILDING Mayor Perry said Chief McNamara had eight adds and Chief Sheehy had four adds. If they are going to do it, they should come up at budget time. They are waiting for a map to show overdoes being reported. Councilor Marsan commented this is an easy vote to use opioid funds until June for these positions. Then we have to get a grant. Councilor Soto asked if we have a grant writer in house. Chief Sheehy indicated they can get it done. There are classes. Councilor Pesce asked how often our ambulances have been out and we do not have them for our residents. Chief Sheehy responded it happens all the time. Salem, NH will come in. It happens more and more. TR-24-5 Resolution to Appropriate funds of $25,000 from the Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund to support the Merrimack Valley Prevention and Substance Abuse Project (Request of Mayor) Councilor Beauregard disclosed he is a member of the Board of the Directors and left the room. MOTION BY: Councilor Campagnone, seconded by Councilor Marsan to approve. Solicitor Rossetti explained there is no legal issue and encourages municipalities to work with non-profit agencies on opioid issues. UPON VOTE: 7 yes, 1 absent (Clr. Saffie), 1 out of the room (Clr. Beauregard) TR-24-6 Resolution to Appropriate funds of $50,000 from the Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund to fund expanded substance abuse and mental health services of the City’s Health and Human Services Department (Request of Mayor and Health Department) MOTION BY: Councilor Campagnone, seconded by Councilor Pesce to approve. UPON VOTE: 8 yes, 1 absent (Clr. Saffie) Ordinances: None Any Other Business for the Good and Welfare of the Community Adjourn MOTION BY: Councilor Campagnone, seconded by Councilor Soto to adjourn. UPON VOTE: 8 yes, 1 absent (Clr. Saffie) I do hereby certify that at a meeting of which a quorum was present, the foregoing minutes were approved by the City Council by a unanimous vote on February 20, 2024. Linda Gagnon Council Clerk 6