HomeMy Public PortalAboutmin 09-09-2015ELECTED OFFICIALS:
Mark S. Sideris,
Council President
Stephen P. Corbett,
Vice President
Aaron Dushku,
Councilor At Large
Susan G. Falkoff,
Councilor At Large
Anthony Palomba,
Councilor At Large
Angeline B. Kounelis,
District A Councilor
Cecilia Lenk,
District B Councilor
Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr.,
District C Councilor
Kenneth M. Woodland
District D Councilor
Watertown Town Council
Administration Building
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-972-6470
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 @ 6:15 PM
RICHARD E. MASTRANGELO COUNCIL CHAMBER
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
DRAFT MINUTES
1. ROLL CALL: A regular meeting was called to order at 6:15 pm, in the Richard E.
Mastrangelo Council Chamber, Administration Building. Present for the meeting were
Councilors Aaron Dushku, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Cecilia Lenk, Vincent
J. Piccirilli, Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Stephen P. Corbett and Mark S. Sideris. Also
present were the Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll and Town Attorney Mark Reich.
Councilor Kounelis arrived shortly after the call of the roll.
2. EXECUTIVE SESSION - 6:15 pm:
a) To consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real estate — former east and
north branch libraries; if the chair declares that an open meeting may have a
detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body. Councilor Woodland
moved the executive session, seconded by Councilor Piccirilli and adopted by
unanimous roll call vote with Councilors Aaron Dushku, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony
Palomba, Cecilia Lenk, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Stephen P.
Corbett and Mark S. Sideris voting in the affirmative.
3. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION: 7:15 PM
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
5. EXAMINATION OF THE MINUTES: August 11th and 18tH
Councilor Piccirilli moved the minutes of August 11th, seconded by Councilor
Woodland and adopted by unanimous voice vote with Councilors Aaron Dushku, Susan
G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia Lenk, Vincent J. Piccirilli,
Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Stephen P. Corbett and Mark S. Sideris voting in the
affirmative.
Councilor Piccirilli moved the minutes of August 18th, seconded by Councilor
Woodland and adopted by unanimous voice vote with Councilors Aaron Dushku, Susan
G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia Lenk, Vincent J. Piccirilli,
Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Stephen P. Corbett and Mark S. Sideris voting in the
affirmative.
6. PUBLIC FORUM — none noted.
7. PRESIDENTS REPORT — none noted.
8. INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION:
a) Informational presentation on the status of forming a Transportation Management
Association — Steven Magoon, Community Development and Planning
Director/Assistant Town Manager.
Mr. Magoon provided an overview of the formation of a TMA. Following the
presentation, Councilors expressed their gratitude and support for such a formation and
the 128 Business Council.
It was also note by councilors that public input and involvement is critical.
9. MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
a) Resolution authorizing Acceptance and Expenditure of a Gift of Funds in the amount
of $8,000.00 to offset expenses related to the "Faire on the Square 2015." The Manager
provided a brief overview of the resolution. Councilor Piccirilli moved the gift of funds,
seconded by Councilor Woodland and adopted by unanimous voice vote with Councilors
Aaron Dushku, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia
Lenk, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Stephen P. Corbett and Mark S.
Sideris voting in the affirmative.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a) Committee on Human Services report on the Opiate Crisis — Anthony Palomba,
Chair. Councilor Dushku read the committee report. Councilor Woodland moved to
accept the report, seconded by Councilor Piccirilli and adopted by unanimous voice
vote with Councilors Aaron Dushku, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Angeline B.
Kounelis, Cecilia Lenk, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Stephen P.
Corbett and Mark S. Sideris voting in the affirmative.
b) Committee on Human Services report on a Dog Park — Anthony Palomba, Chair.
Councilor Palomba read the committee report. Councilor Woodland moved to accept
the report, seconded by Councilor Dushku and adopted by unanimous voice vote with
Councilors Aaron Dushku, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Angeline B. Kounelis,
Cecilia Lenk, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Stephen P. Corbett and
Mark S. Sideris voting in the affirmative.
Councilor Palomba moved that the Town Council request that the Health Department,
Recreation Department, and the Department of Public Works coordinate efforts to
improve the How Dog Park by replacing the existing sign which lists some of the dog
park rules with a sign listing all dog park rule and the phone number and email address
for Animal Control Officer, seconded by Councilor Woodland and adopted by
unanimous voice vote with Councilors Aaron Dushku, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony
Palomba, Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia Lenk, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Kenneth M.
Woodland, Stephen P. Corbett and Mark S. Sideris voting in the affirmative.
Councilor Palomba moved that the remaining list 2 through 5 (installing new signs at the
entrance to How Park that states dogs are prohibited from the park and that the Dog
Park is only accessible from Bacon Street, moving the entrance to the How Dog Park
so that residents can only access the park from the Bacon Street sidewalk, making the
entrance handicap accessible and replacing the sidewalk immediately adjacent to the
park on Bacon Street in order to widen the space for street parking, and resurfacing the
upper portion of the park) be referred jointly to Human Services and Public Works for
further discussion, seconded by Councilor Woodland and adopted by unanimous voice vote
with Councilors Aaron Dushku, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Angeline B. Kounelis,
Cecilia Lenk, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Stephen P. Corbett and Mark S.
Sideris voting in the affirmative.
11. NEW BUSINESS:
Councilor Palomba moved that the town explore organic curbside pickup in a joint
referral to Human Services and Public Works subcommittee, seconded by Councilor
Dushku and adopted by unanimous voice vote with Councilors Aaron Dushku, Susan G.
Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia Lenk, Vincent J. Piccirilli,
Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Stephen P. Corbett and Mark S. Sideris voting in the
affirmative.
12. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE TOWN MANAGER:
The Manager requested that the collection of input regarding the Assessment Center be
referred to Public Safety for discussion. So moved by Councilor Piccirilli, seconded by
Councilor Woodland and adopted by unanimous voice vote with Councilors Aaron
Dushku, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia Lenk,
Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Stephen P. Corbett and Mark S. Sideris
voting in the affirmative.
13. REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION:
Councilor Falkoff requested an update on the vacant town treasurer position.
Councilor Kounelis requested a status of Sampson Street and Calvin Road.
The Chair requested a status on where the Recreation Department is with respect to the
proposed Filipello Dog Park.
14. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Councilor Lenk — 150 Anniversary of the Commanders Mansion; 9/15 at 4pm.
Councilor Falkoff — primary election of district B — 9/17.
Councilor Dushku — PTO ice cream scoop; 9/18. Pleasant Street rezoning; 10/5.
Vice President Corbett — EDP subcommittee 9/10 — Gamble Associates.
Councilor Palomba — Stormwater discussion 9/10 Belmont Winn School.
Garden Tour 9/13 1-5.
The Manager — 9/11 8:46 am moment of silence.
Councilor Dushku — review of Stormwater ordinance; 9/28 5pm.
15. PUBLIC FORUM:
A School Street resident expressed his approval with the TMA program and asked that
Watertown be a stakeholder.
Joe Levendusky, Templeton Pkwy — noted that the transportation taskforce whole
heartedly supports the TMA and reiterated the importance that Watertown is a
stakeholder. He offered to organize a public forum with respect to public input in the
TMA.
Barbara Rushkin, Spring Street — noted her support for the TMA and asked about a
transportation plan.
Pat Gold, Duff Street — noted that traffic is horrendous and construction is
overwhelming.
Elodia Thomas, Marion Road — asked; where does the transportation planning fit in.
The Chair asked for a moment of silence for the 9/11 anniversary.
16. ADJOURNMENT: there being no further business to come before the Town
Council, Councilor Woodland moved to adjourn at 8:30 pm, seconded by Councilor
Lenk and adopted by unanimous voice vote with Councilors Aaron Dushku, Susan G.
Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia Lenk, Vincent J. Piccirilli,
Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Stephen P. Corbett and Mark S. Sideris voting in the
affirmative.
Addendum