HomeMy Public PortalAboutmin 10-13-2015_1ELECTED 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
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 @ 6:30 PM
RICHARD E. MASTRANGELO COUNCIL CHAMBER
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
DRAFT MINUTES
1. ROLL CALL: A regular meeting of the Town Council was called to order at 6:30
pm in the Richard E. Mastrangelo Council Chamber, Administration Building. Present
for the meeting were Councilors Aaron Dushku, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba,
Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia Lenk, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland,
Vice President Stephen P. Corbett, and Council President Mark S. Sideris. Also present
were the Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll and Town Attorney Joe Fair.
2. EXECUTIVE SESSION - 6:30 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.
3. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION: 7:15 PM
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
5. EXAMINATION OF THE MINUTES: September 22nd
Councilor Piccirilli moved the minutes, 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, Vice President Stephen P. Corbett, and Council President Mark S. Sideris
voting in the affirmative.
6. PUBLIC FORUM:
Mark Hunters, 29 Arden Road — introduced himself to the Council as the president of
youth soccer and spoke to the issue of the need for more playing time on fields.
Ed Shinebart, 275 Main Street — spoke to the issue of the need for a green arrow at the
intersection on Main/Church Street. He spoke in support of a liquor license for the W
House restaurant.
7. PRESIDENTS REPORT:
The Chair announced that Watertown will become a "Watertown Purple Heart
Community" and he asked that a proclamation be brought forward from the agenda.
Councilor Piccirilli moved to Suspend the Rules in order to bring forward agenda items
10 A and B, 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, Vice President
Stephen P. Corbett, and Council President Mark S. Sideris voting in the affirmative.
10. MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
a) Acceptance of Proclamations recognizing Watertown as a Purple Heart Community.
The Chair read the proclamation. Councilor Piccirilli moved to accept the proclamation,
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, Vice
President Stephen P. Corbett, and Council President Mark S. Sideris voting in the
affirmative.
b) Acceptance of Proclamation recognizing the 85th Anniversary of the Sons of Italy
Cornelia dei Gracchi Lodge # 1583. Councilor Piccirilli moved to accept the
proclamation for the Sons of Italy, 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, Vice President Stephen P. Corbett, and Council President Mark S. Sideris
voting in the affirmative.
8. INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION on Watertown's efforts on the Opioid
Epidemic. Police Lt. Dan Unsworth and Dr. Laura Kehoe provided an informational
presentation. Ms. Deb Rosati, Health Direction also spoke to an action plan to address
the crisis.
The Chair thanked everyone involved for the collaborative effort.
Councilor Palomba read a proposed Resolution regarding Erase the Stigma week.
Councilor Piccirilli moved the resolution, 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, Vice President Stephen P. Corbett, and Council President Mark S. Sideris
voting in the affirmative.
9. PUBLIC HEARING AND VOTE:
a) Public hearing and vote on a Proposed Zoning Map Amendment application of the
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston and St. Patrick Parish. Steve Magoon, Assistant
Town Manager and Community Development and Planning Director provided an
overview of the map change.
The Chair opened up the hearing to the public. There being no comments, the hearing
was closed.
Councilor Piccirilli provided a brief background of the issue and noted that preserving
the building and adopting the map change is the prudent thing.
Councilor Palomba spoke in support and asked that affordable living be considered as a
possible use of the property in the future.
Vice President Corbett spoke in support of the map change.
Councilor Dushku spoke in support of the map change and noted that peak hours of the
church should be considered and sharing of parking.
Councilor Piccirilli moved the proposed zoning map amendment, seconded by
Councilor Woodland and adopted by unanimous roll call vote with Councilors Aaron
Dushku, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia Lenk,
Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Kenneth M. Woodland, Vice President Stephen P. Corbett, and
Council President Mark S. Sideris voting in the affirmative.
10. MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
c) An Order Relative to a Release and Grant of Easement and Grant of Easement
Rights for Property Located at the Intersection of Arsenal Street and Irving Street,
Commonly Known as "Elan Union Market," and Authorizing the Town Manager to
Execute the Aforesaid Documents on Behalf of the Town. The Manager provided a
brief overview of the Order.
Councilor Piccirilli moved the Order, 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, Vice President Stephen P. Corbett, and Council President Mark S. Sideris
voting in the affirmative.
11. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a) Committee on Economic Development and Planning report and attachment on
Mitigation Document and Traffic Demand Management - Stephen P. Corbett, Chair.
Vice President Corbett read the Committee report. Councilor Piccirilli moved to accept
the report, 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, Vice President
Stephen P. Corbett, and Council President Mark S. Sideris voting in the affirmative.
ACTION ITEM AND VOTE:
Vice President Corbett moved the following motion:
that the Council ask the Planning Department to ensure that for every project, the final
control documents and the Special Permit are posted online and that previous documents are
placed in a separate folder labeled "Previously Submitted Documents, " and that Mr. Magoon
prepare sample Record of Community Benefit summaries on 2-3 projects of his choosing and
present them to the committee for discussion, seconded by Councilor Dushku.
Councilor Woodland spoke in concern with the second part of the motion and stated
that mitigation cannot be defined and is too subject and ambiguous in many cases and
that he could not support it.
Upon a roll call vote of the second part of the motion — it was defeated by a vote of 4 in
favor and 5 against with Councilors Piccirilli, Palomba, Dushku and Corbett in favor
and Councilors Falkoff, Kounelis, Lenk, Woodland and Sideris against.
On a vote on the first part of the motion - that the Council ask the Planning Department to
ensure that for every project, the final control documents and the Special Permit are posted
online and that previous documents are placed in a separate folder labeled `Previously
Submitted Documents— it was moved by Vice President Corbett, seconded by Councilor
Falkoff and adopted by voice vote with Councilor Dushku voting against and
Councilors Corbett, Falkoff, Kounelis, Lenk, Palomba, Piccirilli, Woodland and Sideris
in favor.
b) Committee on Public Works report on a Stormwater ordinance — Cecilia Lenk,
Chair. Councilor Lenk 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, Vice President
Stephen P. Corbett, and Council President Mark S. Sideris voting in the affirmative.
The Chair stated that the Stormwater ordinance will need a publication and first reading
prior to a public hearing and vote.
12. NEW BUSINESS:
Councilor Lenk stated that a presentation will be provided on November 10th regarding
the closing of Beacon Park where it intersections with Arsenal Street. An
advertisement and full public hearing will take place thereafter.
Councilor Dushku moved to refer to Human Services a tangible process to determine
the best place in need of parks, seconded by Councilor Palomba.
The Chair spoke against the referral and asked what the intent was.
Councilor Dushku stated that it was to determine the town's needs.
Councilor Piccirilli asked that the motion be put in writing and presented at the next
Town Council meeting.
Councilor Kounelis concurred.
Councilor Lenk spoke to the need for clarity on the motion.
Councilor Dushku withdrew motion and moved that a referral be made to Human
Services to discuss the development of a discussion analysis of open space needs,
seconded by Councilor Palomba and defeated by roll call vote of 3 in favor and 6
against with Councilor Dushku, Palomba and Piccirilli voting in favor and Councilors
Corbett, Falkoff, Kounelis, Lenk, Woodland and Sideris voting against.
13. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE TOWN MANAGER:
The Manager thanked everyone involved in the Purple Heart Community event.
14. REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION:
Councilor Lenk asked how we enforce the maintenance of properties noting the NStar
station and 33 Mt. Auburn Street properties that are in poor repair.
Councilor Falkoff asked for an update on inter -department discussions of the
development of an Inspector Services Department and update on where we are with
hiring a town treasurer position.
15. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Councilor Falkoff announced that she attended a Tree Training program.
Councilor Lenk announced a 10,000.00 grant to the library from Bestbuy for the teen
computer for the hatch space.
The Chair announced a police department seminar entitled — "Why did they do that".
16. PUBLIC FORUM — none noted.
17. ADJOURNMENT: there being no further business to come before the Town
Council, Councilor Woodland moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 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, Vice President Stephen P. Corbett, and Council
President Mark S. Sideris voting in the affirmative.
Addendum