Gloucester Budget and Finance Standing Committee, Oct. 8, 2026

Speaker 1 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Here we are. Speaker 1 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Welcome to the Budget and Finance Committee Meeting of October. Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): 8th, 2026. Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): We're at Gloucester City Hall. Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): in the conference room and virtually online. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): We're waiting in line. There's lines. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): of mine. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): We're awaiting. So this is Councillor Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): at large and Council City Council, President Tony Gross myself, Scott Memhard, Board, one city councilor and Budget and Finance chair, and we're awaiting the waiting councilor at large, Patty Ann Page, to join us virtually.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And with us also is, Kelly Dolan, our CAO. Yes, sir. And… Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Chief Mike Gossam. Mike Gossam. Acting, yes, sir. Acting Interim Chief Michael Gossam. Welcome. Yeah, thank you. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): I got that right? Yeah, you did. Is Kenny online? Kenny's on Kenny. So that's Kenny Costa is our city auditor who's online. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And again, we're awake. We're going to start, but we're hoping that Councillor Patty and Paige will be joining us virtually. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So the first, st I'll just take things as they are. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): in order on our agenda today.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): and the 1st There's a memorandum from our Archives Committee. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Requesting the acceptance of donations in the total amount of $185 from 3 different sources, and Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): The committee recommendation is that budget and finance recommends that the City Council accept various cash donations under Mass. General Law, chapter 44, 53, a. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): to support the Archives Department in the amount of $185 from the following members and business partners in our community, Omar. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): James Perry, Don Dusky. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Donna Lombardo for Garrison Rousseau for a total of $185, and with our thanks, I so move. Second.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): need this question, seeing none, all those in favor. Aye, any opposed motion passes 2 in favor. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): One absent. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): 0 opposed. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): and in the same line. Item number 2 on our agenda is a memorandum from the Cape and Veteran Services Director. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Tviji Greeny. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): requesting our acceptance of donations in the total amount of $2,785. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): and the motion is budget and finance moves to recommend City Council, except for his cash donations under mass. General law. Chapter 44, 53, a. To support veteran services in our town in the amount of $2,785 from the following members and business partners in our community, Lamar.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Peter and Pamela Kucher. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Dorothy and Leonard Laquata. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): James Robertson. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Susan Howard Casimir. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Nina Goodock, William Sargent. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Peter Kaske. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Sharon Muse. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Lance Bell, Ball, David Pignoni, and Linda Pignoni. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Joel and Maria Wilson. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): and Ed Comeau for a total of $285, and I shall move. So you hear Patty.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Patty, you're muted. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Okay. Is that better? Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): That's better, yep. How are you doing? City Hall - Council Chambers: So did you hear that? You're ready to vote? Yes. From Real Hard. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Yes, Kenny. Just to confirm, so the amount is $2,785. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Yes. Thank you. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So, I made the motion, and you seconded it, I think. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Second, now. Second, okay, and it's a roll call vote, since one member is absent and remote.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So Councillor Gross. Aye. Councillor Patty and Page. Aye. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And Councillor Scott Menhart, aye. So the vote is three in favor, zero opposed. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Item number 3 on our agenda is a memorandum from the Director of Elder Services requesting acceptance of donations in the amount of $10,050. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Motion is to recommend the City Council accept cash donations under Mass. General Law, Chapter 4453A, to support elder services. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): in the amount of $10,050 from the following members and business partners in our community, whom are

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Brunei and Alfred Mayor. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And Angela and David Rich. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): With a total of $10,050, and I so move with our thanks. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Second. Second, you want… Tony, why don't you just second while you're there? Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): I will, I will. Thanks, Patty. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Any discussion? Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): That's a very generous donation from the mayors. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): It sure is. City Hall - Council Chambers: Yep. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So roll call vote.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Councillor Gross. Aye. Councillor Page. Aye. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Leonhardt, aye. Motion passes. Three in favor, zero opposed. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And next up, you. Welcome. Yeah, so it's item number 4 on our agenda, and it's a memorandum from the interim police chief. You can stay seated. Okay. Requesting approval to utilize funds for the Recovery Coach Academy. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Chair? Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): We request to remove that item, please, from the agenda. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): We're gonna reduce, remove that. Yes, please. Without prejudice. So noted. Thank you. Item number five on our agenda is a memorandum from our interim police chief, Michael Gossom, requesting acceptance of a fiscal year 2027 state 911 training grant. And this is in the amount of 95,000.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): $636.25. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Try again, yeah. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): A little background on this new speech. Sure, sure. Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): 911 training grant that money is used. Our officers that man the 911 station are required to complete 20 hours of in service training to be certified in their emergency. Speaker 5 (City Hall - Council Chambers): medical dispatch and this money will be used to pay for that 20 hours of training for each officer. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Excellent. Councillor, any questions? Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Not me. Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Councilor Paddy. Councilor Page, any questions?

No, thank you. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Okay, great. I'll read the motion. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Budget and Finance moves to recommend that the City Council accept under Mass General Law, Chapter 4453A, a state grant. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): A fiscal year 2027. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): State 911 Department Training Grant Program in the amount of $95,636.25. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): The grant period is from September 8th, 2026 through June 30th, 2027, and there is no local match for this grant, and I so move. Second.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Motion's been made, seconded. Is there any further discussion? Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Any questions? Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Seeing none. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): But. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Roll call vote. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Councillor Gross? Aye. Councillor Page? Aye. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Limburg. Hi. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Motion passes 3 in favor and 0 opposed. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Then again, next up, item number 7 is a memorandum again from the interim police chief. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): and a lot of good stuff here with you. Fresh start.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): This is a requesting acceptance of the fiscal year 2027 support and incentive grant, which is in the amount of $102,983, and give us a little background here. Sure. Speaker 5 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So this grant is a reoccurring grant. We've applied and received it. Speaker 5 (City Hall - Council Chambers): As far as I can remember, we've had 911. It's used to help supplement the salaries of, the people that… and support the officers that man the 911 station, provide emergency medical dispatch 24-7. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): I'd like to report that. Any questions from counselors? Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): No, that's pretty clear on the supporting documentation.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Councillor Page, any question? No, thank you. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Great. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So, Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): I would move to recommend that the city council accept under mass general law chapter 4453A state grant for the Massachusetts executive office of public safety and security. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): State 911 Department. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): The fiscal year 2027 State 911 Department Support and Incentive Grant Program for $102,983. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): The grant period is from September 8th. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): 2026 through June 30th, 2027, and again, there is no local match for this grant, and I so move.

Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Second. Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): discussion or question. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Seeing none, roll call vote. Councillor Gross. Aye. Councillor Page. Aye. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Mr. Menhardt. Aye. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Motion passes 3 in favor, 0 opposed. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): That would do bye. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Not at all. Not at all. Thank you. Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): You can hang around or you're gonna have a couple more things. Yeah, sure. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Next up for us is a memorandum number 7 on the agenda, and it's a memorandum from the city clerk's office, and a 2027 Sbt. Number one.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): This is in the amount of $9,922 and 24 cents and 2027 SBT number 2 in the amount of $401.33. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And both of these are to reimburse the police department for the police details. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): at all polling stations places for the September 1st 2026 Primary election. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Kelly, you want to speak to that, or Tony, or is it pretty straightforward? Speaker 5 (City Hall - Council Chambers): or. Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): forward. It's just it's just the reimbursement every year and we'll see it again November. Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Yep.

Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Send you through the rocks, I believe, with all the. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Special election. Special election, though it has been reduced a little bit by consolidating polling stations in some cases. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So the motion budget and finance moves to recommend that the City Council approve a special budgetary transfer 2027 Sbt. Number one in the amount of $9,922 and 24 cents from general fund registration, ordinary maintenance, police details. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): The count number is noted through the general fund, police, uniform, personal services, overtime. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): account number as noted, and this is for the reimbursement for police details for the September 1, 2026 State primary, and I still move.

Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Motion is made and seconded. Any question? Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Seeing none? Seeing none, except the only thing is that we've already budgeted this, it's just moving it from one place to the other, it's moving it from this department to that department. City Hall - Council Chambers: Sorry. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Our ducks in a row. Yep. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So that's the first one, and most have been made and seconded. Any further discussion? Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Seeing none. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Roll call. Vote. Councillor Gross. Aye. Councillor Page.

I. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Meanwhile, I motion passes 3 in favor, 0 opposed, and the second half of the motion. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Budget and finance moves to recommend that the City Council approve special budgetary transfer 2027 Sbt. Number 2. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): This is the amount of $401 and 33 cents from general fund registration. Ordinary ordinary Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): maintenance, police details, account number is noted to general fund police uniform personal services, shift differentials. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): account number, again, as noted, and this is for the reimbursement for police details for the September 1, 2026 state primary, and I so move. Second.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Any further discussion? Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Motion made and seconded. Roll call. Vote. Councillor Gross. Aye. Councillor Page. Aye. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): All right. Motion passes 3 in favor, 0 opposed. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Next up, item number 8 on our agenda is a memorandum from the City Auditor. and a 2027 supplemental appropriation, number 3, in the amount of $12,000. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And this is to install a portion of the wayfinding signs project. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And who's to speak to this? Kenny, or Kelly, or… Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): I can speak.

Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Oh, go ahead. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): You see the signs? They've risen. Yes, I can speak to the movement of the funds. So, if you recall, at the end of fiscal year 26, with all the year-end transfers, this was also included. So it was transferred out of the general fund, out of the tourism budget, to the general stabilization account. So what we're doing here is now we're transferring it back. From the stabilization back into the budget, so we're able to complete the project. So I just wanted, you know, you to know that this is monies from fiscal year 26 that essentially we're reappropriating, so to, you know, to complete, the project.

As far as the project, I would defer to Kelly or to Alex if he's… Available. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Billy, do you want to speak to the way sign? Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): All are installed, so we have no more updates at this time, and we confirmed with everybody, and everything Kenny said is exactly what I was gonna say, so… They're beautiful? They are beautiful, we've gotten a lot of good feedback on it, so thank you. Yes, they are. None of them have fallen down yet. No, no, that is true. Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Okay. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Okay. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So the motion is to recommend that the City Council approve a supplemental appropriation 2027 supplemental appropriation number 3 in the amount of $12,000.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): from the General Stabilization Fund on Disney Fund balance account number is noted to the General Fund tourism, other purchase of services account number as noted. This is for the purpose. The purpose of this appropriation is to install a portion of the wayfinding wayfinding Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Signs project, and I so move. Second. Motion is made. Seconded. Any further discussion on this? Yes. Can you hear me? Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Yes, loud and clear. Thank you. All right, thank you. Kelly, was kind enough to send me an email. About the, about these signs. And this is what… She reported.

$65,000 out of ARPA. 5,250 out of Comdev. 40,160 out of a federal grant. $30,000 at a CDBG, a very precious fund. And $12,000 out of tourism. That total is $152,410. I believe we just… If my memory serves correct, Budget and Finance just approved $17,000 for installation. Just some weeks prior, that's 1,600. A hundred excuse me. $169,410. Now we have this additional $12,000.

for a grand total of $1,410. Now, my first question is. That's for 6 signs, I believe. Are there any more signs? Because this is a portion, and I'm not understanding what this portion is, and is there any more upcoming costs for Fabrication, installation, or anything on these signs. Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Nothing on these signs, no. These five… this is for the five signs that were just installed. Okay, so that total, 181, 410, will stand. For the Six Signs.

Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Penny, do you want to speak to that? I don't have that number. I don't have the amount, but Patty, I did hear you say $12,000 a couple of times, so I think the $12,000 might be double counted. I don't believe… oh, okay, because that $12,000 is the one you referred to for fiscal year 26. Correct. So the fiscal… so that $12,000, what we did was, we did it as a budget… a year-end transfer. If not, that would have fallen to the bottom line, and that funding would have just dropped. Because it was part of the, operating budget, so what we did was we transferred it to the stabilization account, because that funding was needed, so now we're putting it back. So, I think, I think I heard you mentioned $12,000 two times, so it's just one time.

You're correct. Okay, thank you very much. So, 169,410. Correct. For that total of 6 signs. And so, what's this… portion What… explain to me portion. That was… In this request, For the 12,000, They said a portion, so… It sounds… Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like it's not a complete project. Is that an incorrect… So the portion… the reason why for the portion is just… it's more for, you know, like the… for example, when we're audited by the outside auditors and DOR, it's just letting them know that it's not for the entire project. So what… because the thing is, this is going to be for financial reporting, it's going to be part of our fixed assets, so…

We just put in portion just because, just so they know that this is not for the, it's not $12,000 for the entire project. So the portion is in there just more for our financial, you know, reporting. So it's just the portion. The reason why we put portion in there is it's not going to fund the entire project. As you know, it's about, you know, $160,000. 169410? Yes, thank you for that explanation, Kenny, I didn't understand that. Okay, that's fine. There's a second issue I won't get into. I'll just comment that Placement of the signs. We're probably pretty fair, but the…

The desecration of the boulevard was totally unnecessary. It should have been placed Either down by the… Parking lot. Or maybe… you know, I hate to say down the tennis courts. But in the middle of that boulevard, Was… Poorly chosen. Just poorly chosen. Thank you. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So noted. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): If there are no other comments, I've read the motion. It's been seconded. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Roll call vote. Councillor Gross? Aye. Councillor Page? Aye. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Aye. Motion passes. 3 in favor, 0 opposed. And Councillor Page's comments and concerns are on the record to be noted.

If that can be moved from the boulevard. We're into it so far now, we might as well move it. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Okay. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Next on our agenda. Item number 9 is the City Council 2026. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Number 18 Gross Amendment to Chapter 2, Administration, Article 2, City Council, Section 28, Fees by Deleting, and… Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Quote, published in a local newspaper whenever. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): whenever fee changes or new fees are approved by the City Council and vote. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And note this matter was in fact approved at Ordinance Administration on October 5th, 2026. And to comment on this for us is our city clerk.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Grace, welcome. Thank you. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So, this is really just bringing the. Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): ordinance. Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): alignment with the current process and the process that's. Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): It's really been an existence for… City Hall - Council Chambers: A very long time. Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So the ordinance says now that anytime a fee is updated, it needs to get posted on a fee schedule. Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And that fee schedule needs to be on the city website as well as being published in the local newspaper.

currently. Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And again, like I said, for a long time, this has been an oversight. When the fee schedule is updated, it is not being published in the newspaper. Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And the city is… Getting on track with getting our full list of fees published on the city website. Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): That is, victim. Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): is ongoing right now. So what this would do is, anytime a fee Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Changes the fee schedule that is or will be posted on the city website will be updated. Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And where it says that fee would be published in the newspaper whenever a new fee is approved, or whenever a fee changes, that would not happen. It is not currently happening, it has not happened for… I don't… I've never seen it happen where.

Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): when a fee changes, it is, published in the newspaper. The only time we are seeing fee changes being published in the newspaper is when the fee is embedded in the ordinance, and there's an ordinance amendment, and, that public hearing would be advertised. That process is not changing. Speaker 6 (City Hall - Council Chambers): This is just, cleaning up the ordinance to reflect current process. Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): I could never explain it like that. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Thank you very much. I agree. I sponsored it. They did the work on this. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So this isn't going to be the nail in the coffin of our local newspaper. We weren't paying for it. No.

Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Interesting point is, and going back now, it's gotta be. Speaker 2 (City Hall - Council Chambers): 13, 12, 13 years ago, the city council. Speaker 7 (City Hall - Council Chambers): When you were there, when Greg Werve was there, Paul LaBaer was there, you know. Speaker 7 (City Hall - Council Chambers): You guys all voted that all fees should be in a fee schedule and not in the ordinances. Speaker 7 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And that… Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Attempting to streamline it, and that has. Speaker 7 (City Hall - Council Chambers): not taking place. Speaker 7 (City Hall - Council Chambers): You know, not to say that, you know, the City Council can't, you know, this is about approved fees. It's not about proposed fees. There's a very clear difference here. This is about after they've been approved.

Speaker 7 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And City Council, if it's a hot button issue, it should be very prudent that they would hold a public hearing about it and advertising. It's a, you know, like, when we did the fees on the trash bags, you know, automatically you should go out, have a public hearing on that thing, so you can hear from the public. Speaker 7 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So, this is not… That, this is about after it's been approved. Speaker 7 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So… Speaker 7 (City Hall - Council Chambers): It's not happening now, and we've been out of compliance with the City Council order on creating a fee schedule. City Hall - Council Chambers: Anyway, also, so…

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): I'll go ahead and read the motion. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Budget and Finance moves to recommend City Council amend Gloucester Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Administration, Article 2, City Council, Section 28, Fees, as follows. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Both all fees contained in the city schedule of fees are hereby established and authorized. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): said fees may be modified from time to time by vote of the City Council, unless the fees are governed and controlled by mass general law. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): The schedule shall be posted on the city website. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): We are deleting.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): quote and published in a local newspaper whenever fee changes or new fees are approved by the City Council, and I so move. Second. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Further discussion? Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Any concerns about this, Patty? No, thank you. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So the motion's been made, motion has been seconded. Roll call vote. Councillor Gross? Aye. Councillor Page? I… Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): All right. Aye. Motion passes 3 in favor, 0 opposed, and No. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Nope, nothing else, and seems like we're perennially and always Correcting and updating the police.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): various… Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Ordinances and how they're advertised. We think we have it fixed and then we find something else that we haven't come over. Speaker 7 (City Hall - Council Chambers): more coming, but actually big improvement. It's good housekeeping. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Good exercise. There's some nice improvements coming. And hopefully it saves headaches in the rearview mirror. But. Speaker 7 (City Hall - Council Chambers): We're working on more transparency ways to… get the word out. Excellent. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): So this is done. Thank you very much, Grace, for your clear and concise.

Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Description. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Next up is item number 10 on our agenda. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): and that's the memorandum from our city auditor, Kenny Costa, regarding accounts having expenditures exceeding their authorization and any other related auditor business. Kenny, the floor is yours. Yes, thank you. So, we have 15 accounts, that we're reporting, for a total of $342,123.03. It's actually a decrease, from the last report, and I can say our department, we've reached out to all the various departments, and, we were able to resolve a few, and, and, we're continuing to work with, the departments. I can tell you, Council on Aging, Diane has been working with the lease this week, as far as, moving the expenses, and then also, working with her to move, the payroll encumbrances

As well. So we're, you know, some items have been resolved, and we're continuing to work with the departments, to resolve. Same thing with waterways. We've been working with Leslie and Chris. The Harbormaster, there seems to be. a split, something with, the payroll, how payroll's being charged between shellfish and waterways, so we're working with them to correct the split, the percentages, on that. So, we're making… we're making progress, and, I'm just happy to report it's one page. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): For. Now, so… Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): And the number of accounts and the number of dollars is both reduced. This is manageable. I hope it stays this way. This is manageable.

It's a big improvement from what I saw in January. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Thought so too. Agreed. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Well done. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Any other business before us? I I'd like to have 1 more comment when appropriate. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): The floor is yours, Patty. Thank you. I understand these wayfaring signs cross administrations and It's… I'm not… this is not a blame game. I just would like to point out. that I think the cost of these signs. became… we're out of control. And we have a fiduciary responsibility To try to keep.

projects and expenditures Reasonable. So I think we just use this as an example going forward. somehow not to let these things escalate like this. I appreciate you. Taking that comment. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Absolutely. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Kelly, do you want to respond to that in any way, or is that Alex's department in terms of how this is? It's gone through a while of transition. Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Yeah, I mean, I understand the concern. There's nothing to really respond. I respect her, you know, Patty's point of view. And Councillor, I completely understand, and it is hard when there's multiple administrations overseeing

Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): what one folk, you know, might find very important, and someone else, you know, might even not, but they are trying to still fulfill that wish, so I think that there's multiple factors that come into this, but I appreciate Speaker 3 (City Hall - Council Chambers): you being, you know, open and upfront about your thoughts on this, and I'm always happy to have a conversation with this project or any other project going forward. No, I understand, Kelly. It just, it seems like it was a, you know, a A well-intended project that somehow got out of control. $28,000 per sign. I'm sorry, I can't… even for a city, I can't wrap my head around that. So, if, you know, we just need to be more mindful on projects and things in the future.

Thank you. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Thank you. Welcome to adjourn. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Promote. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Made, seconded, any further discussion on that matter? Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Yeah. No, sir. Thank you for accommodating me on Zoom. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Absolutely. Well, thank you. Hope you're feeling better. Roll call vote. Councillor Gross. Aye. Councillor Page. Aye. Speaker 4 (City Hall - Council Chambers): Memorized by motion passes 3 in favor, 0 opposed and feel better. Patty.