Chelsea, MA Unsorted, 18 Jun 2020

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From YouTube: City Council Sub Committee Meeting 6-18-20

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City of Chelsea
via WebEx
Chelsea Community Cable TV

A

Fossil Tamala vido.

A

Dunkleman's of El Dorado, the Amir Rodriguez aqua, where vision is here, comes any Lopez's. Alright, oh yeah, seven year for absolute.

A

Looking at our schedule for tonight's budget hearing, our first apartment that will be reviewing is the law.

B

Department sitting here with us and solicitor.

A

Page on the main document, it is 11 on the annotated, it's four five and on the employee, salary list, age, seven so again, age, eleven, four or five and seven.

B

So mr. president, I would just say that.

B

Its operation side level, funded from last year on the salary side, you'll see it's down significantly by sixty thousand, and that is because we have not replaced one of Cheryl's assistants who left in the spring to take a different job. We are going to try to get by this DePalma with one less person and FY 21. It's not optimal, but given our fiscal constraint, we made the decision not to fill this position for a year. It is a position that we will need to fill, but we're going to get through.

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C

So that's always interesting as to what would be what happened throughout the fiscal year.

C

C

Assistants tend to do the same level of work, but that position did more as a litigation for the running to court. The other one tends to do a lot of the municipal hearing, stuff and school stuff. They shared the school investigations.

C

We're lucky school, has been out for a few months and may not be on campus as much, but they do a lot of the litigation which was helpful to have an investigation in-house defending city, employee.

C

Outside legal fees for lady, so a lot of day of Labor is done with outside counsel. If there's a conflict between the superintendent and the school committee outside counsel, we'll take one side I attended to the department. This is intended and outside counsel would represent the scoop on serious issues, but they probably have a budget for about sixty to sixty-five for outside counsel and then in their line on the legal service.

C

So they do a lot of myself. My salary, the staff salary, is shared. So when you look at this, we just said that about seventy. Eight thousand dollars goes towards our salary. They also pay some of our legal research. It's not all painting this. They also a training line for us, because large differences on most of the assistants don't know school law, so I send them to training. So they do pay this specialized training.

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B

A

In your office that may or may not be- let's say it's luxury at this time when we're not pulling the position of say an attorney.

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B

Lay off don't say that huge amount of money because we're self-insured so we're going to Radar. This was a situation where I didn't have to lay it open. If I, honestly, opening.

B

That's different than laying someone off if this position was Daisy left.

B

In the midst of this, when I'm going to union saying I.

B

Thought they just couldn't justify bringing another I paying position influence. It would have been the same thing in my if I would probably say, I'll struggle and get back I could justify bringing another person at that's dowry game, but I wanted to be suggesting. Let's say so, so that really is the distance.

B

B

We had and made it was a stocktake prison was not an employee. He.

C

Allegations left and right so so that slow gun work shifted from my office with a culprit related information. We were doing some licensing stuff, I still have a full-time employee. I still have you know a full-time attorney, so we will get through I mean when I started here be many moons ago. I was alone, I may not have been in the school, but I was alone and slowly but surely my office had grown.

B

Now it's clear.

B

That's basically, my question is how much how much repeating impacted by by this, by by not hiring the positioner the position for freezing the position, and- and this is obviously, if you mean, if you didn't- eat an additional person higher in the first place. So that's my question about how how much how much is being impacted- and you know, is it.

C

B

A

Everyone that is in place at this point you can, he said. Maybe six months from now, you had a position, but it's quite the officer to say when keeping them on the books. Now.

B

A

I get it but I'm also getting more. What is going on in the real world and I, say private sector.

A

You know because of what's going on from around no, but those are the reality, and sometimes when one of the things that's frustrating for me, I'll say: there's continues, is whatever we're going to agree to here today or next month. There's what our tax payers are going to end up having to come to terms in October, and you know and I'm anything different, that the looming is gonna, be a two and a half raised, no matter what.

A

Yet we have a lot of people out there who are suffering I'm laid off and then tomorrow's not great. So where is the buffer there? It just seems that I think you know it's hit the fan, and it is what it is I know it sucks more out, but I don't know I'm, seeing the cuts that we means nice and drastic. They need to be.

A

Maybe I, don't know. You know, I've been here and Leo. You've been here. Two recessions I've seen what a budget looks like when it's paired down. This is not it and when we have to go back and tell the homeowners and the business owners that we have to pay for it, that's right. That's the challenge and I want to make sure, because I definitely we've seen pared down budgets and it doesn't seem like this is the reality that I'm.

B

Looking for you so I just want to say that I did, though she ate with the purpose of avoiding waiting. We have unions that have taken that renegotiated their contract for FY 21. The stale word is as a SEIU library. They are agreed that they would defer the arrangement FY 21 in return for a minute FY 21 alone.

B

That seems like a good deal when that's reflected in this budget post employees are taking a 0% rate. All the exempt employees have gotten a 0% rate, not just for that's. Why 21 FY 2012, please, you know I'm not suggesting that.

B

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B

Always been if I can gain concessions.

B

Have taken a zero of 20, the only room 10 to the 0 20 and the zero and 21 I.

B

Think thinking about the Salton Sea, you know economic aspect, the whisper.

B

You know it seems to me that the little credit should go to past councils in building up the rainy day you know and and if there was ever a rainy day, it's it's now and if there's ever a purpose to use money like that, I think it's now so well. I know firsthand about how it's having to unfortunately, lay off people in my company and- and you know, I- would not wish that on anyone Ellis and so I'm happy that there's no layoffs in the in the city or at the school.

B

So that's something when I think past bounces deserve some credit for building up those. Those findings for Natalie and I think that's the way we operate the future trying to rebuild those funds so that we have. You know something to fall back on and your emergency is God knows whatever's going to happen.

A

Any other counselors at home have any questions on the law department.

C

In the law department is for and then I have a licensing administrative, which is a separate budget licensing.

D

C

So you can't average it because there's two attorneys and to clerical take the salary ranges of different.

C

This is about 54, probably where all that.

C

Well, what you say that both my clavicles did not receive a cost-of-living for FY 2000. They receive a cost-of-living for FY 21, that's about 5%, oh yeah I'm, not in the Union I'm exempt. My staff is confidential.

E

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Determine whether.

C

Appreciates not being late so.

B

I could not lay off anyone an SDI. You still workers on the library, because I've negotiated contractual agreements with them not to lay them off. I'd only have other positions on the side of those three unions to look to if things got really bad, but this budget is based on what I think are fairly conservative revenues. I mean I'm, assuming a 30 percent private unrestricted generally.

B

It may not be that bad, but I assume it's the purpose of setting with fun.

B

It's possible that some of the reductions I built into this may not be as bad as I.

B

It's hot this note it's impossible to say because I think so much is depending upon what Congress does with the next release package, if Congress grants, relief to state and local governments, some of the cuts that I've built into this budget.

B

B

At this point, I can't.

B

D

A

This to the only disease.

C

So if there is a judgment against the city in money, damages to settle claims and to settle lawsuits as opposed to a judgement you're doing a settlement.

C

For this past year, for example, we've had pending lawsuits discrimination lawsuits duck. Tabuk comes out of that we pay about fifteen thousand dollars in the deductible, so it's legal, certain legal fees and whatever, if we lose. Sometimes those are settled. I, don't have a say in that we've paid. So most of this is for Trident. We had an employment matter that we paid attorney to be strong, a bad tow, which we set up certain claims, that's what we pay out of it. So we've had a couple of those this year.

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C

Insurance when I say so under your an insurer, we get a claim. Police car hits another car. We get a claim if it goes to suit and there's an assign determined. The insurance fills us back as part of our deductible. They pay the legal services, so we may have lost the Katyn that may not lost the pink I.

F

Just have a question.

G

About are we salted.

B

Sure for everything.

B

That we have property insurance probabilities, we have insurance, we have insurance for a liability.

B

So pretty much everything except.

B

For most of the things we have insurance, but in the insurance we have, you know high deductibles in sales, also in the employment discrimination insurance I believe I'm conducted was fifty thousand dollars. So.

B

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C

So will you stand is that if they take a step down, they have to take that it's a.

C

And I agree because when I first hired someone, it was brand new to me to have a licensing administrator me not doing it, and so what you don't see when you read the licensing Commission is the day-to-day Consumer Affairs, with these people applying without attorney going to these locations enforcement. So I I think that the pay.

C

It might be the same. She just came in at a higher grade because when you do move up, you get to negotiate and you.

C

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A

Six or seven point two: six.

B

No I, just in the budget we presented in FY 420, we had notified that we had included in there a position for part-time buildings.

B

That's a little the mayor and you know so.

E

That is one of the changes in summer. So there's one additional. This.

B

Part-Time totally expected that hiring happening in law and then, as I said, we had negotiated with this Union. The creation of a holding.

D

A building inspector supervisor that.

B

Is taking effect on July, 1 2019, and so that that wasn't reflected in the budget last year. But it is reflected in this.

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Council's any questions regarding the services budget.

E

If they leave for an extended amount of time, sickness or vacation more than a week, I need to I need somebody to come in.

E

So I have somebody already: we have an agreement when two other individuals, my two weeks I'll, have the inspector from another town coming three days spread out, so they can do as minimum inspections.

E

No nobody else in the one guy is a contractor. He'll come in and help me in the other. Guy was the inspector. Is there any more and he'll come in and help me to inspect playing really well just to be minify? Why the president are on vacation.

D

E

Two types all the time this Saturday morning, all the time most Saturdays of the two inspectors will come in it's a revolving schedule. They'll come in and they'll check for guilty. The work going on over the weekend will trash their check for ages like that.

E

There's a fire in the middle.

E

Saturday morning.

B

And the other thing was 4,500 for conference travel. Is that I mean is? Is that going to use this year? Is it going to be zoomed conferences? It.

E

Cut down so so the building inspectors, we have seminars every month and we have and we gotta keep continuing education.

E

E

The bank, while we take the.

H

H

What are you, what you're not so.

E

So last County we issued 1600 1600 certificate, saying that the property is safe in helping we actually do 2,500 inspections. To do that, so there's a lot of Rhian spectrums. We find basement environments we find in the daytime. You don't really see the overcrowding you do see the locks on the doors we see. You do see the extension cords. You can see that the hot place we find these problems and so I wouldn't say it's it's an epidemic amount. But you know we find you know, maybe maybe 808 a month, maybe a little less.

H

E

Things like that.

E

So whatever the.

A

I

You, mr. president, hi Mike I have a couple of questions as far as well I guess, first I wanna touch on this overtime thing for me. I feel like in other ways how to concern with overtime with them with the fire department and and it's something that people deal with it with Public Safety across the country, but isn't the idea of overtime that isn't the point of creating a budget, so you have to avoid overtime. Is there anything that we can do internally to have to avoid doing that?

I

Or is it just something that's kind of inevitable, because it's based on emergencies take that.

E

I'm, so half of its emergencies I think that's an animal. If you want to talk to the inspectors about about changing their you, don't change it I, don't think it will happen, but if you could change their work schedule you're gonna Saturday. We really. We really get a lot of complement for our overtime in Saturday morning. So hey. We actually make money on that, even though it cost us 30,000 women fines a lot of times with these illegal workers going on something when.

I

You say we make money on that. What what? What do you think between.

E

All the construction jobs that we stop, that would have that would have got away with the worm in the double fees in the fines. Tremendous amount of fines on Saturday, more than have to find probably a lot higher on Saturday, and it's it's. It's all behind a thousand dollars to Sean. So.

A

Council, big dope, you said earlier that the city last year, but had two hundred seventy thousand dollars worth of fines last year collected from his department. Yet the overtime is only thirty thousand, so.

A

Collecting hundred thirty five thousand dollars in fines are issued on a Saturday and you're spending $30,000 around and over time your nettie $100,000. That's what that's! What.

I

The state is yeah.

J

I

Just didn't realize the ID was such a source of such healthy revenue.

B

So I just wanted you could you know you could conceivably go shave with this sciu you and try to get someone who would agree to work, a different schedule and come in on a Saturday. It would not be overtime for them, but they probably looking for some differential for coming in on the weekend and not recommend on the ship, and so you ended up probably paying just as much as you might pay having people come in and.

A

E

Still labor those four hours of work.

A

I

Right so, my second part of my question is regarding reporting.

I

It almost feels like I've always felt like you guys were underfunded, or maybe just are it's hard for you guys to keep up with the caliber of work.

I

I, don't know, I, don't know what it is, but I know that I've asked questions with respect to condo, conversions and I, and you and I have gone back and forth on email, getting information, and it almost is like I'll ask the question: you'll give me a number and I'm like yeah, but what does this mean and then you'll respond, but there's never any comprehensive reels of force about the information that you're collecting. Secondly, the other thing is I.

I

Remember a couple of months ago there was a situation with us and we were in conversation about a gentleman that owns multiple properties in Chelsea, where the apartments had multiple violations and I. Remember that people were organizing around all of these violations in the apartments and there was an action from a local organization against this landlord.

I

But yet when I spoke to I is D, the the record-keeping didn't match the complaints that were in the community, so I don't know I'm a little confused I feel like there's a disconnect somewhere, where maybe we're not tracking everything that the violations in the units but I'm, just I, guess I, guess I'm trying to figure out. How can we be better at making or I'm sorry Leo talking.

I

I'm just trying to make sure that we're keeping adequate records that are up-to-date that are reflective of what's actually happening, because people deserve to live in dignified housing. Obviously, but are we holding these landlords accountable so.

E

I remember that situation that was all of all the violations I had and I know that you've got a lot more complaints than I had the problem is in this environment, at least before this crisis people weren't calling us for 4000 points. We already got 48 housing complaints last year that we actually wrote. That's that's pretty low I! Think it's just because when someone has an apartment, they're afraid they complained and not gonna they're not gonna be able to stay in there. The press is gonna, start a patient, the bench, so those numbers are low.

E

That's everything I had that gentleman he's warm he's more abrasive than that. He is a terrible landlord. It's why he treats people really more than more than the violations that I've seen anymore yeah.

I

But I just but it just seemed like because there weren't pictures that were brought to a public to a public gathering of the amount of violations that were in this unit and at that point the tenants felt comfortable enough to come out and see support from local activists to advocate for them. So the where's that disconnect, where we're not able to access that information or that maybe people don't feel comfortable enough coming to us something's gotta give is my point right.

E

So, though, I think there was six apartments in that in that situation, only three of them, let us saying so. We did expect three of them never got into the other three I think some one person left and then, when they left they had to fix everything, because we were gonna expect so there's two apartments he might not have still been into, but we can't can't go in without the planets information and.

I

Can you shed a little bit of light on the condo conversion program that we did, because the idea was that we offer resources to people where three families are two families whatever would being converted to condos and so that the landlord, the owner of the property has to offer certain resources and services to the tenants.

I

To you, they were already vacant, so we don't really know what happened so I'm just curious. If you have any reflections or any information that you can provide to us on how we can tidy that up, so that so that homeowners or property owners are not getting away with vacating a unit without having to apply with our ordinance. That's.

E

Exactly what's happened so I have two right now, both vacant buildings they're both getting renovated, and then they asked us to get to get converted to condos they're already vacant. So the only way to do it, I don't know how you do it well, what they're doing is they're doing their renovation I, don't know if they're a victim they're asking the people who leave and then they're doing the renovation and then during the end of the renovation, then they file for condo conversion and that's each.

E

We have not having one occupied buildings, they're all thinking and that's.

I

Because they know that they have to offer some type of service I, don't know.

E

I think what's Easter Saturday, for you did send send me some pictures I did contact them. He had everything fixed that night. So if I find them today at least space cleaned up, it was a mess today, if I find him that day, then he's never gonna he's never gonna send someone on a Sunday morning on Easter to clean 11. So in cases like that, there's been a couple times when we called him, because there has been a real bad problem. He fixes it right away.

E

It's really hard to find him in a day or else he'd. Never do it again. He kind of kind of pick your poison in a situation like that.

A

They have any questions again for the special services directly. We still have two weeks.

A

Department of Public Works.

B

So you see that open position in here as a this manager position at grade 11 step 6. We are not filling the junior manager position. That person has moved to second billing and will not fill that position, but we will be filling full-time.

B

Higher paid position of full-time business manager with the expectation of that person will be providing support, not just the DPW $29. So with that said, I can turn the rest of the soul to the devil.

K

By opening statements from thank you very much counselor, this particular sketch budget on the admin budget. What I wanted to highlight is there is an apparent increase in the salary portion of it and in the overall portion of it. But the reason for the increase is because of 3 1 1 right, so it has.

K

As you all know, we roll down through one one in the fall last year, but it really ramped up it really ramped up this spring and I can assure you that the roll out of three one one was to the city's panel. We hire burn away of the manager of 301, and now we have two full-time operators: Ronnie Gomez and Elsa Quezada, all all Chelsea residents and through the pandemic we wanted to be seven days a week, 12 hours a day and they were providing incredible support for community.

K

Whether it was through answering questions, logistical questions about the pandemic, they served as the funneled to our hotel. They they stayed supported our food distribution efforts and, even though you know it might seem like an increase, I think I think the the benefits that we are getting in terms of constituent services and overall support is something that I deeply believe.

B

H

H

It was working 70.

K

This portion of the budget is just the administration but portion of the budget right, so 3 1 1. Actually, the majority of the increase is that Ronnie Gomez, who is now through one Operator, was actually in another department. The deposition was previously as a floater itself in central billing, with with with with the ramping up of our hiring and central billing, we no longer need that position allocated to central billing and that position is going to be a fully assigned to three one one.

K

As I mentioned, the the overtime related to Cove in nineteen is gonna, be hopefully being requested as a reimbursement, as part of me, the care site, and it's not something that we expect to happen next fiscal year.

K

You know when we roll down this this department counselor. It was really a trust right. I mean we did. 301 has has been rolled out in in every community around us in everything will be here in summer building Cambridge everyone has to be on one we will be. We were the only ones that that didn't have it at the time. What I can tell you is that when we were remote right also, City Hall closes right in March and basically all of our palms forward to three one one.

K

So 301 became the hub of answers for City Hall, and it wasn't just you know, answers on questions like parking tickets like birth certificates. It was, it was a question like I, don't have any food. What do I do you know I. Think I have I need to talk to a doctor. What do I do so really the the scope of 301 has, as has been incredibly expanded because of the virus to to answer your question. Do I think it is working, I, absolutely think it's working.

K

Can we improve it absolutely and in one way that we are going to improve it is that we actually have applied for another grant. So it's a Justice Department grant to fund us one additional operator so so that we have more capacity and then we can answer more hormones.

K

So the the how the job posting is created, it's very clear that it's a grant funded position right, though so if for some reason we're able to obtain another crack to keep it funded, then obviously we will keep the position if we cannot find money to.

K

Strong strongly believe and I stand by the fact that we would not have been able to do what we did in the.

K

So here we are.

L

I know that scream.

L

K

Tom has has really pushed, or so so in the past two years we were placed on about 20% of the lights. If you recall, the council gave us another four hundred thousand dollars in February so that that that should account for about another twenty five percent, so the in the first round. The upgrades will really focus on the arterial roads right, so so streets like Broadway, like Garfield Sagamore. You know, Washington and central, is in this other round. We're gonna start going into the neighborhoods. So so we we have a contract.

K

Now where the contractor was going to start completing the upgrades actually is summer, so we are going to do another 25% of streets and the streets that we've identified were streets that that were previously requested to us streets like spent around and a few others. But do you have any streets in particular that you're interested in please? Let me know.

L

M

Have a question, can you hear me sorry leo may I may ask a question.

M

It's about pest control and just looking at the numbers from 2017, 18 19 and then there's a huge jump to 2020 and that's pretty much stays the same. What what change to have that jump? I'm! Sorry, if I missed that.

B

Actually, probably 2008, we did it in the middle of FY and then we continued to hear and where we want to continue to fight 20, because it's a very our residents really feel like they getting good service on. So where you want to maintain that.

K

That was a special council free cash request so that free cash request.

K

So it was something that that after it was, the money was approved. We actually put it up the bid. The lowest bid was a company out of Brockton, and the price of the contract was forty six thousand dollars for the signs. We we did the entire installation in-house right now, our DPW staff is completing the installation. It's so justice. I try to be the decorative street signs, it's something again that a lot of communities around us are doing right.

K

So you go if you go on Broadway and reveal the the signs look exactly the same instead of red or blue, but but they're nicer, you're brighter the brand new and they have the Revere see since you want them right. In my opinion, it's a nice addition. It pops! No it's it's it's a very low-cost way of bringing something new to our streets. Okay,.

H

Nice job in collaborating with all the agencies of the house or in the corporate nineteen pandemic.

H

Receive impacting it was a great effort and it was great to see Thank You staff, member Thank, You.

J

L

What are we going.

K

So the what we have to do by law is, we have to collect them, so we're massing them in the city yard and we are going to auction them off. So if you recall, when we were place, T the marble steps in city hall, I two or three years ago- that's exactly what we did. We follow them up. We collected them. We put them out as an ox mat, Frank actually and a few. His friends won the auction I think there was an article.

K

So we were planning to do exactly the same with the street side, so we're going to collect them and sometime in the fall, we are going to hold an auction online. That's gonna be open to everyone and one or multiple lucky winners are going to own a quite a bit of street signs of chosen.

K

So every single sign in Chelsea is going to replace the the cost of the signs of $46,000, both the labor of DVD.

K

B

It's about every year.

K

We have been very aggressive in replacing the older vehicle, so the the latest acquisition was a was our biggest shock. Yet it is a attend. We own, the truck that that the way we are proud of our fleet is running up to 30. The idea is that we have we. We split up all of the streets into groups. We have a 11 neighborhood routes plus plus one arterial route there, and so it's about because on the air, you want a big truck right, like like I'm on marginal street, on Broadway on Webster.

K

The smaller streets like like Warren, are a few streets, for example or narrow, and are tight right. So so so we we have the balance, the accessibility of our smaller streets and maintaining our the bigger to.

L

K

Are going to so we we have one transfer right now, you, you approve a second truck, so we're hoping that by having two trucks we can we can. It is more reliable. We don't have to put all of our eggs in one basket.

M

Anyone else I have a question about this. I have a question. That's ok, I have a question just quickly about the sand. You know this I'm, sorry, the salts. Why is that so low 2020.

K

D

So there is a strategic reason why we don't increase this budget, even though every year.

B

It's insufficient and that's because you are allowed by was one of the rare accounts that you're allowed by law to go into deficit on, but they only allow you to do that if you the same amount of money of the previous year. So if you increase it you're stuck with that remember you can't ever reduce it. So we keep and we spend what we need to spend. But if we increase it to say four hundred thousand that's 121, we could never reduce it below four hundred thousand. For the rest, the time we were sitting or.

C

We can't deficit spending, okay,.

K

So the last two years at least, we have really focused on wrapping up our staff revving up our training. Last year we had zero contra, so so it is our goal to to do up 100 percent of it in-house right. So the goal it's doing entirely enough. They put of.

J

Course we need to have an option B so every year.

K

A

So you have one person into this apartment, but I see a bunch of guys who are out there. So how does that work? Might.

B

Make you a few other guys with.

A

Become so how is it the separation, I guess.

K

We we don't assign any guy or never two trucks. Right I mean we have a 25 five staff members. They dig in in streets and sidewalks, wait a minute and for their benefit and our benefit report for for training purposes. You know for port, for.

K

We we tried to rotate our work right there, so so there's not one single person is assigned attraction right. I mean you see, see once rationale one day and John I mean we do it for a multitude of reasons, but but we we, we don't assign staff to trench. Okay, except my my.

K

His role is intended to be a trash education person. It's mostly oversight right so so originally is. Is that first we're 100% related to to reducing the amount of trash from our sidewalks that is related to trash and also to increase or recycling percentage ransom soap. So he is truly doing 100 percent trash recycling at all times.

A

Counselors anyone have any questions.

H

Staff member at any, given you know.

H

K

We are, we think, that rotation of staffing- it's absolutely critical right, I, mean sure. So our goal is so that all of our guys know how to do everything right. So so you know how.

I

To attract you know her glass wall.

K

Sidewalks planting trees, you know, and it's pretty cool, to rotate her staff right and no one likes to do trash on a day like today, right the it was 90 degrees outside it was you know, it's not easy work. It's it's really physical work right. So so it's a balance between between.

K

We have reliable.

K

K

So there's two two main contracts that are funded a line right. What one is the actual pickup or the trash which is Russell disposal right there and the other. The other large contract is mostly paying the landfill to take right, so so the with Russell disposal, as with both actually we're tied into a contractual amount right. Oh so one thing that has has really been increasing. This line is the cost of recycle right.

K

So, as you all know, and it's a story that we have been coming to you for for some time now, the the in the past five years, the customer second, as a rock right. So when five years ago, communities would get paid to give things like paper or cardboard now, recycling cost more than trash right. Oh so so the reason why this particular line item in the budget is going up. It is because recycling, it's just really impacting yeah, not only Chelsea, but a lot of our communities.

J

K

K

Yes, so last year we moved we move. This is into solid weight right. So this is how we fund things like, like the request from the Beautification Committee right. So if someone with request sign for thanks to twin incentivize or resident, throw trash to the ground, I ask if we're asked to you know to to install flowers on a regular. You.

I

Know in an area.

K

This is how we fund that program ready in the past. It was called the beautification program in the past. We have moved it to solid waste and it was the same last year and we continued to fund it at the same level. I think it's very important.

K

So we we have issued a lot less violence rather than than before, with with with the role of the trash barrels right, I mean I. We were gearing up to. We see signs to people who who were not using our trash barrels. You know we started giving a notices in January and February. Unfortunately, pandemic hit right. So with the onset of the pandemic, I mean we, we have you know and probably for the next few months I mean we.

K

We are going to focus on education, giving people notices, because we we know that folks in the community are gonna, be very strong. You know, so we we don't want to increase the burden on the.

A

A

Councils any other questions, I.

M

Do I have a question about the finding Fidel. Is that something that is that you're responsible for finding people, your department,.

K

So if someone, if someone is dumping, trash inside of their back yard or more in frame in private property, is in special services, Public Works, which responsible for issuing fines on on the public right away. So, for example, if you put your transparent over flowing, we can issue you a fine or you know if we, if we find you completing the illegal dumping on the sidewalk, with the additional fine and.

M

What about so? What about businesses? Where does that fall.

M

So the grounds of let's say today or whatever it is now the grounds around it.

K

B

B

B

B

B

The problem is I, don't know that were on the same cycle as.

B

We could gather together and do a big. We should probably those.

B

Least it was when I was there.

A

H

Thank you so miss manager. You said if they do not bid next year, then we be aware of purchasing equipment or salary.

H

B

Presumably a two-disc, you know we dispose in a separate contract to dispose that about solid waste contract with livery. We don't have any contract with any new site from facility to dispose about recycler. So we build that into our to spoil our trash collection contracting rustle inside the tab about recycle next year that maybe not even getting contracted a big upset for recycling. We may have to dispose of.

K

Starting the conversations with the communities that that have Russell- currently, they aren't down to reading for communities that that still have and two of the communities have given them notice. So Russell I can assure you that Russell will not be bidding on the next cycle. They are either going to get out of the business or or stay with the customer right as their only contract. Difference ability is in somerville their garage, so they are able to provide really really impressive pricing all summer, but they the trucks right. So what what I foresee?

K

What's going to happen in the next cycle is that is that big companies like waste management that have that have facilities of their own or are going to use that as a leverage point right now to basically keep the smaller players out of the market.

K

Services, waste management, Republic Services, those are going to be the ones that are going to.

K

You know my position is that right now we you know we are 100 percent dedicated to water, so right so so so over the past twelve months and the next twelve months we are going to be 100%.

I

Dedicated on making.

J

Sure that that the transition.

K

From our H white, the city.

J

K

Chelsea is going to be smooth right, so so, honestly,.

I

I, don't think we have the.

K

Capacity to think also socially, you know my recommendation to everyone is: is we need to read the focus right now on water? Soon, right I mean and we've seen what it takes to take it off right I mean we have to purchase equipment, we have the higher style. You have the train, stop we have to ensure they have the license that it is not something that can be done overnight.

K

So we're going to try a about studying books, seventy bucks with the way of all recycling what was as high as 120 of them.

A

Any other questions.

A

See you know they move on to the next portion. Are structural instructions bro.

J

A

Colleagues are there any questions on the store portion.

K

F

So our policy, you know that I serve it as the Deputy Commissioner of Public Works, along with Fidel onto someone Fidel. My role in the city is also to be the city engineer, so I'm involved in a lot of projects from the engineering side, but for the next two years my role is also going to be to serve as essentially what we're referring to. As the wsd superintendent wsd stands for water sewer drain, we're trying to kind of brand something different than Chelsea water and sewer or blight water.

F

Other things that you've heard about five weeks from now wsd actually efficiently replaces our aged wait. Who's been the contract operator in the city since 1992.

F

My number one focus from we for the last 12 months and for the next two years is basically going to be tough to make sure that this operation is top-notch I'm setting a goal for us. You know we want to be. We want to be the best water sewer department, States, where you want to be looked at that way. You know what, if they do, that you know we got a lot of work in front of us.

F

Wait you're, obviously to talk about the budget, but I want to make sure something kind of bigger get stated here. We've got a great team of people, many of whom have come from a successful side of our streets and sidewalks group, others that we brought in from outside to bring in more horsepower and technical capabilities that we've had inside of also gotten great.

F

You know excellence employ along the way from the city, council and the city manager, other City departments and I personally want to you know, acknowledge to down and all the support that he's given me to help take this idea of taking over Department and actually making a success. So the answer your question is: are we gonna save money? The answer is we couple things. I would just want to point out the answer that then you've been asked. I guess.

F

Why am I lying questions if anybody is interested that is uh we're on our goal was to was to identify how to do this work better, build an appropriate staff to be able to do that better, but also to figure out how to do it more cost-effectively. So, from the from a staffing side, we came to the council originally with with a with a plan and a budget that called for 13 staff.

F

Three people were associated with sort of a management side, and ten people were associated with the field. Side was starting.

F

We starting of this operation with only two people instead of three in the management side and I'm, serving as the third person for the at least the next two years until we can get this thing to be up and running properly and cost-effective on the field side, we're starting out with seven and a half full time equivalent people, as opposed to ten, so we're already starting sort of rent down from what we originally thought: approval from from City Council. So just to put that in dollar term.

F

What we originally came to the council, with what we originally came to the council with, was a planning that had a price tag somewhere around one point: four: three million dollars at the time by comparison to Irish whites, contract value of one point: seven: eight million dollars.

F

We were looking at a savings of about three hundred and fifty five thousand dollars in the process of what we actually submitted through some kind of reworking of numbers, acknowledging that we weren't going to get a full complement of staff and some reductions that we thought you we can live with it. Still the regretable Jonah. We were able to take four hundred thirty thousand dollars off of that number. So well. We're coming in this year is a number that is basically a million dollars.

F

The equivalent version of that through outreach, Wade's contract is going to be 1 million. Seven hundred, eighty-five thousand so I would say, essentially we're saving about seven hundred eighty five thousand dollars. No, that's just an analysis of what our each bite costs are versus what we've budgeted now to perform the same service, so we think we've saved a lot of money when you try to take that analysis and then match me up against last year's budget versus this year's budget.

F

It gets a little hairy because, like it'll, be a whole lot clearer from half-white 21 to FY 22, because fy2010 e of the costs really were were were sort of the start up in the ramp up. So we were phasing down some things, phasing up some others, but it was not a typical year. Most every other budget thing with you we're comparing last year typical to this year, typical with not a whole lot of differences in variation of services.

F

Here we're taking on a contract operator just like we would have take over the trash to be able a radical difference in trying to analyze it because we're doing it in a completely different way. I'll be happy to answer questions on the line items, but I didn't want to let the conversation of this go without without amplifying with a real savings.

A

K

So I 21st July 22nd there will no longer be here. July 22nd is today.

L

So explain to me: yes, we are, we are we are we hired people, yes, we're still paying in China by 22, correct, so where's the game gonna come from. Yes,.

K

If you recall last year, you know we came to City Council. That anyway said hey. We want to think this order. We think we could do, but in order to do it we are going to need a number right because, as I was telling you with the trash, there's not something that you could turn on right. So in this passed this past 12 months, we've had to hire people we've had to train them. We've had, you know, take our staff and give them licenses, and things like that.

K

So so we think that the one-time expense that we have for right. That's the school year came from retained earnings right, oh so that was a one-time request that we will never have forget it, and it's gonna it's time like when, when you start a business right away, you start a business, you gotta, build the store. Fronting you gotta buy table got my chair. Maybe it's not something that you're gonna have to do every year, but essentially we're starting our own water source.

L

And we're gonna say X amount of dollars by going in how we doing.

L

Dollars, I, don't think that retro took a looking at.

B

21 is where we're staying mistake, because the difference between what we would have paid an average right and FY 21 is 1.7 billion dollars. We are not paying instead, we're taking over the cause and I'll cost to do.

A

A

B

21, it's included in this budget, but you'll still see when you're in this budget.

K

K

When we came over Italy, we we showed you, you know a five-year view right, because the initial expense that was approved in the budget for FY 2013 right, so those vehicles are going to last five ten fifteen years right. Oh so, you know what we are more startup costs when you look at it on five years.

L

K

We are in the concert with our hy. The language actually stated that every five years they have to buy new vehicles, so so I actually made the vemos that they have right now are fairly new I mean and we're buying them.

K

F

If we extend them, if we extend the lifecycle of those vehicles by even another year or two years, we just keep picking up more and more savings. I mean I, understand in respect what you're asking and the concept of it and the short answer is we're not gonna save nearly as much in the first year on the start-up, just like any other business. I will bet my reputation on it as I as I have because this was my crazy idea, the city doing this is not going to save a little money.

F

The city's doing this is going to save an enormous amount of money, and the level of service is going to go up. Infinitely. We've already seen that because would because we're doing things in a way that they would never obligated or compelled to, despite being paid far more than.

F

Give you one example for the last four months, our guys work directly with their guys to go and update all the service cards for all the valves in the city and our guys are coming back and telling us that their guys can't find their own valves that they've been paying attention to for 28 years. Look, in other words, our guys are helping them figure out how to something that they were supposed to do for a long time, and when you can't find a value in a little bit of a water main break. The water.

F

That's gushing everywhere is like a cash register like taking your tax cap to work and having it stay out front. All that water is blowing everywhere is passing through. The MWRA is cash register and we aren't selling you.

K

Typically, we, you know the the shortfalls and water source lis seen in a water right, so so in the past six months we have made it a point of responding to every water main what am I breaking energy in some cases recently, rhy, you know, we've waived them off.

K

Right we we showed up both blue and I done. We were there.

K

We saw the break we able to fix any was fixed properly was in AB and E. We went 100 percent because it's our ass, we're gonna. Be there again right we're with a contractor. You know they. They are just looking at the Emmys right. How do we build the we are looking at? You know responding to our councillors, we're gonna come in and ask work or for other things we we are also trying to build for the future. I mean and I just want emphasize. That snag.

K

Immorality, wait, I, think I think what was was one piece example of what it can be like if we're running, to show.

A

Any questions from the.

A

I think that's the question of line of questioning similar to the both here. Department.

A

Feel free to email me or the city manager.

F

I just wanted to say.

F

Thank you. So much I saw firsthand what a great job team did in in really quickly moving and making a system work to address the needs. The pandemic.

B

And I mean it was unbelievable and not just to use. No mr. Anderson.

K

My job and we we did not have a single issue with our staff. I mean you saw them out there. They were handing out food, there were helping people, it was all over the anomaly.

B

I'm telling I mean I saw.

G

B

Exactly there too, and so I I really want a very heartfelt. Thank you. There's a lot of people out there and Chelsea big got a lot of help on this, because of not just your efforts, but your team's efforts and they were fantastic. Every time I saw.

B

A

H

B

Want to say that.

B

B

There is concern that we could be spending money in other locations, Social Services awarded only to me and broken down, slow and direct more money. They are I think this is the fair.

B

Is that set our energies how's everyone doing? This is unique, but it seems to work out really good I was in the other room and I saw the dPW's presentation. This will be time very efficiently and it's become the new world I'm supposed how we work at operate, remotely we spin out, but I'm I, think I'd, rather than just kind of go on.

B

I agree with weekly Tom I'm here, certainly to answer any questions for those of you guys at home, and certainly those of you president in this in this room but yeah I, totally agree. I.

A

B

The number of offices did I bet answer. This is my thirty thirty years, I've seen a lot in terms of the department size kind of grow over the years, I've seen a lot in terms of the the crime levels that we've experienced in the city. There was a time that we will always play and catch up with the number of offenses that we had. We, you know when I come on the job. We had 75 offices. That was never enough.

B

We had two offices who units on the street offices one cruiser two offices in another in a supervisor who it was just totally never enough. We were overrun over the years. We would always looking to get to a target. Above 100 is primary creased over the years we would kind of add a target to 120 offices to do the job, and perhaps that might sound like in 120 offices in Chelsea. Today, no it's based on spread out over shifts and different things. I think I mentioned, did some of the comments council meetings.

B

In the past the magic number was five meaning. We have five offices upon each squad. Two squads work at a time, so there's 10, we have an impact shift which is hours at five o'clock and nine to 3:30 in the morning, which is five on on one shift and five on another. So at the end of the day, mathematically with the number of offices to your point you know crime has crime, is definitely going down.

B

I, don't um one I'm, a firm believer that you know when people look at crime stats across a region or across the state or across the country they're not equally applied, it depends on what's being done in those individual areas, I think in Chelsea, we've been extremely proactive. Over the years we've had the ability, based on the size of our department, based on the willingness for the officers to really be involved in things beyond law enforcement.

B

So it's not just offices in a contact and cost as a result of crime going down to potentially scale back from 107 to 102. Pinkie number I think that our ability to remain proactive to stay on top of things to kondeh with the community to be a different events that honestly, it's kind of you know.

B

Some of these events are really nothing to do with policing, but many of these events of police led many of these events are really breaking barriers with some of these young folks that'll be in the age group of 14 15 and then in their 20s soon enough. So the idea is we're really trying to get ahead of things and I say trying to get ahead.

B

We have been getting ahead even going back the last 10 15 years, this philosophy that we have in the way that we assign our offices and work with all these groups and so forth. I think so. My my prejudiced view, I guess is- is a function of all that we've done over the past 15 years to get to the point now over the last few years. They would.

B

In three years, violent crime has gone down significant chance. What you guys have heard many times, I think in different presentations that it was a time when we had that tag of that label of being the eighth most dangerous city in the country. It certainly wasn't part of that that goes back to 2010 2011 over the years that ranking, if you will, from one of the organization's on through his neighborhood, spelled calm.

B

We went from 8 to 14 to 27 into the 40s into the 60s and now well of the hundred, so we're not in the top 100 violent crime in Chelsea. This is kind of. One of my concerns is violent crime in Chelsea. For a long time, the actual violent crimes have learned, I raped a groove, ated assault and robbery was on average about 600 violent crimes. Again. That number has been greatly decreased to around 200 E.

B

In the violent crime rate, the property crime rate is in the overall crime rate, has gone down as a result, so I think that a the mechanism we have in place as far as the structure of the police department, the organizational structure is sound, Thomas, the manager. When he approached me and said you know Brian, you know, can this work or 107 and just a thought out there, because probably just mentioned it, we have never even attained on 111 we're always trying to get there, but there's someone retiring highest.

B

Someone in the process, I could forty with that. How long that takes, but hiring someone training, someone you're well over again, so there's all those behind the eight-ball in that regard, but a long way of answering your question of all these visits and other questions, I think that what we have instruction we have in place in the budget. The budget that's being presented I think is reasonable.

B

Based on again, we know that we have a small city, II realized where we have a lot of folks to live and something potentially could erupt at any time you could carry on from carry on for a number of days if the law them so I think that the the meaning we.

B

A

B

So it's it's really, you know top of my head and what I've seen over the years looking at the data is fairly consistent with the national data, meaning. Oh, we have Violent Crimes the clearance rate when Violent Crimes is usually 39. It's usually anywhere from like 70 to 80 percent. A lot of people want to well they've launched a lot. Sometimes we have more people willing to come forward.

B

We participate as witnesses and as victims in court with violent crimes, whereas farming crimes, soul breaks a window in a in a vehicle late at night, and they steal something. The clearance rate on those are feeling low, probably in eleven twenty to twenty five percent, that's pretty much with the national average I, don't know no Sara Lee. If that's a more of a function that even if we had two police officers- or we only have fifty that would change much.

B

A lot of that has to do with just a way that you know structural society is set up. Someone commits a property crime and no one's around, although arguably they technology that definitely has changed that we now without modifying any time. There's a crime, we have a hundred fifty cameras in the city. We have multiple private cameras in businesses and homes. We've always first thing we do, especially certainly if there's a violent look about look around.

B

We were the cameras, canvassed the neighborhood three in the afternoon three o'clock in the morning and retain all that video. So that is helped significantly Murphy's Law is always in play. We have a motor vehicle that fled away. Where do we have to? We have a plate? Not we have a rough description of a cop. Yes, we know that make it model, not because a lot of them, a soul, is so close because, but we have technology with something called maven. We have when there's shots fired in.

B

B

B

A

A

B

What do you feel so it's.

B

Honestly, we don't it's a great question: we don't have any covert cameras. Everything is pronounced for the public to see where they're at there was the initial Bank of cameras, news 12, it was federal grant. It was critical infrastructure, as you indicated, with the bridges and so forth. Over the years, we've been lucky enough to be a partner with the metro, Boston Homeland, Security region.

B

We have funds that allocated to individual communities and small Boston in Boston, so we've been for the most part, almost all the cameras that we we have in place we're a following federal money. Every now and again is a city manager, and/or City Council's that have specific requests based on situations that are developing in a district where they think this is the blind spot.

B

There's no coverage and there's been times I, don't know the exact number, but there's been times where we've utilized city funds, but when we have the good news is that over the years when we first instance with the camera program, humours were very expensive. Like $15,000 a unit, the price has come way down, so we're able to only purchase a camera at a given location. For the most part, we were able to put three they absolutely one can tilt Zone two fixed on high priority locations and the prices was relatively reasonable.

B

I think the point where it might be about $3,000 per package, so there's times where there's monies available a funds available to the city. If not, we go back to the well. You asked me with the metro, boston, whole mystery region. I teach every year in the cameras that we have coming on lines with this whole ten cameras, they're working on right now.

A

Counselors any questions or lychee counsel be Joe.

I

Thank You, mr. president, hi chief Kai's. How are you can you hear me? Okay, good, okay, I have a couple of questions. Obviously there is mass mobilizations happening across the country across the world with respect to some of the systemic inequities that exist within different systems. The police department in particular, there's a lot of calls about.

I

Defunding police I know that you've been meeting with the black and Latino legislation and you've been meeting with leaders in other parts of the state to talk about some of the pending issues that are arising, I'm curious about what reflections you have as far as what would it mean to not necessarily defund the police, but to reimagine what Public Safety could look like in Chelsea now with full respect.

I

I understand that, under your leadership, there isn't much of a tolerance for some of the things that we have seen in Chelsea in the past, and I praise you for that, but I'm, just curious as to what your opinion is on that I know. I have received several letters from Brandon residents about us. Cutting the budget for the police department. I have for many years been very concerned about the amount of money that we spent on Public Safety in general, curious about your reflection on that and then I have another follow-up. Well.

B

Well, I respect the point: I just I'm a little x on the general movement of that particular phrase that you just mentioned.

B

Defund the police I've had the opportunity to talk to different elected officials in terms of what their opinion is in terms of what that means and when I've had the one-on-one conversations I have yet to have one elected officials say that we meant to defund the bullets if they were part of any movement and they there was some some talk that I heard the it's a new catchphrase or new word reprogram and I have asked like what is that and again I understand and I respect and appreciate, what's happening on what which has happened with some of the tragedies around we at the end of the day, when you know we talk about the Commonwealth, and certainly we talk about you know a city of Chelsea I, just I just need to understand and to your question about reimagining public safety in Chelsea I just have the people on goal and I'm with I'm open minded.

B

If there's any ideas and suggestions, keeping everybody is safe and secure as possible. I have I know that just again, then, when I first started as chief, certainly over the years, I had a lot to learn and I listened and I still listen, but at the same time, I realized that, with my individual philosophy for the police department, we hear about the talk of community policing and I. Remember talking with this council many times that I wanted to bring that philosophy to another level. I wanted to enhance community engagement in community outreach to another level.

B

I noticed was even when I definitely see here. That Keith was believed at the time would have been 2015 14 when we had this conversation when I want to hire someone who's dedicated as a Swain to that premise. In addition to reinforce me, what we have is waspy with all the men and women of the department. I preached that around the general area of other departments, as well as beyond some people, some other offices or leaders would ask we block and I, say I think it's important to get ahead of any problem.

B

Now, I think it's important with our relationship building to build these relationships. Relationships with our young folks I think it's important in terms of your questions that we imagine Public Safety the best the best position. I think that police would be in was would be if the phones weren't ringing, if everybody was happy and the residents were safe and secure as possible, but realizing before.

B

Well, then, what we do now, you guys know this, because you clearly say it again many times as as far as enforcing the laws law states, the laws of our state that we have that's probably 10 to 15 percent of what we do and the other 85% is just being involved in relationship building in solving problems and working with residents who have issues in just doing this all Bowl and over again I, say it all the time that I can imagine when I think back when you know 20 25 years ago, when the police department was such close edges of the Chelsea in elsewhere.

B

They're, all we did is wear uniforms on the car and into the gradient box as they came in and now we're all about much as pottery when honestly, facilitating and leading in discussions that so long law enforcement, the things that we want to be involved in because the end result is keeping us safe and if we can keep a young folks and I'm, not so young folks kind of lined up to believe in in our mission to work. Alongside of us, I think it's better for all that. So to your point into anyone else.

B

That would have a similar question, and certainly you know: Mike Mike doors, open and I'll come to you anyway. Anyone placed up a conversation. If there's a vision is different than that. If there's a vision is stiff enough, like those other colleges with the Attorney General a short time ago in during her call, she mentioned we're talking about something that won't boy with it, but one of the phrases he said was restoring trust.

B

She said, she's I think it's important, that we restore trust and I didn't want to necessarily correct her, but I said no Attorney, General I, said of the opinion not so much to restore trust but to enhance trust, I think in our city and for everyone, but I. Think in our city we have a high level of trust: a high level of accountability, a high level of transparency, a high level of spirit cooperation, I think to enhance that level to levels that are beyond what we have is my goal.

B

So if part of your or anyone's you know, vision is part of that. Absolutely be a part of that conversation. Okay,.

I

So I I do have to say that under your leadership there has been a lot of transparency and I. Remember the police department of the past- and you know you and I- have spoken at length about that, and so I know that you do have a zero tolerance today. I really do appreciate that.

I

However, there is work, there are always blind spots, I mean none of us are perfect right, there's always room for improvement and so I. Imagine let me ask you a question. So we talked about I know that we have the most diverse police force in the state, how many of those policemen of color that expand, that number of diversity are in senior levels of our or in management position.

I

B

Right now, with the what we have one C, four Captains, all Caucasian, we have neither lieutenants or Latino a seven o'clock Asian we have fifteen sergeants of which 15 top of my head. We have five that are Latino five day Latino and then, as far as the breakdown full offices, a lot to show other than to know that we have forty-five percent of my department is of a diverse classification, I shared with this signature, the other day that we sent out I.

B

Think in the last time, a couple nights ago, I sent out a survey to all the major city departments in updated data. On the diversity rate, I told the city manager that I feel with confidence. The Chelsea will probably be number one is 45 two said Springfield will probably be close behind, but the average, the average diversity rate in the major city departments here in our Commonwealth, is about 18%. So in 25 percent we still have a ways to go, but we're well ahead of above us and I.

B

Think to you know to hold on your question. You know. Did anyone to question might ask know how is in CEO going to attract more candidates to reflect the community and we're doing that now? We've been doing it for several years in terms about I'm, talking about engaging people and so forth, but on the coop ineptness have been great. We had three offices that started today, actually to be latino offices, I, hope you, Latino offices, bilingual. The hope was that if we, you know, we did it this pandemic.

B

When we had 111, we had four slated to go to the Academy, which we're also Latino as far as the deflection of the hierarchy per Police Department in terms of leadership. This is this question has been asked all that he is as well. It's a you know. We have a civil service, Police Department, which means for officers to get elevated in rank. They take an examination, is a competitive exam. It's a process. They compete against one another and at some point I mean honestly of the police.

B

Department was 50 percent 60 70% of a diverse class, just by virtue of the math that would reflect the hierarchy would be a similar reflection at some point, but again I. Just you know, 33 years is gone by equipment when I when I started, we had one outfit American officer, one Latino I, don't know what I write zero over the years. I've, certainly grown and I suspect will continue to grow, not just in diversity of my level question all my supervisors I also.

I

Noticed that in your budget, I looked at the budgets for previous years. In the last seven years we spent a hundred and forty thousand dollars on the ammunition and I'm gonna, ask a silly question, but do bullets expire.

B

I

Why the need to spend so much money on ammunition of what happens to the ammunition? They know there aren't any shooting. So what where's? Where does that go? Firing.

B

Range yeah, so what happens? Is we have two big questions bite? We have to qualify at the fire raise once a year. What we do is we qualified, ycu I would like to I would like to have the range three times again. I want officers to be as proficient as possible with their weapons, in the hope that they never have to use them.

B

The new offices that go to the police academy when they train they train for seven days on the range and they expend thousands and thousands of rounds of ammunition, I, think I, don't know the exact math, but it might be eight thousand dollars worth of ammunition for all. This is very expensive, so so yeah the reality is a munition. Not it has a shelf life. You know, I'll be a long long time if I don't know much something ahead, but the reality is. We don't have like an armory of ammunition that we keep stockpiling.

B

The ammunition is used for the training for the new offices, as well as the offices dinner on the job, as well as the interest rate. One.

I

Final question chief: if, let's say this council came to an agreement that we wanted to cut 10 percent of your budget, which I believe the budget is about 12 billion I, don't have it in front of me. Let's say that we wanted to cut 10 percent of your budget. Where do you see as the area for opportunities make some adjustments?

I

B

Do I forget the I, don't know what the percentages are with the four offices. I, don't know what that at some point, a.

B

Cvs bless more than I am, as is the CEO, so that's the, but at the end of the day, I guess attorney.

A

B

Would not want to sacrifice any of this world positions or the civilian positions for it Department size the size of Chelsea. We have very, relatively small civilian staff. Usually you see a police department with 100 sworn officers. They probably have about 25 civilians, if not more, we have less than 10.

B

If there was, you know just answer the question: I guess a totally I hope it doesn't happen, but I mean we have other. You know as far as our overtime budget on courts on budget it's been and we've been. What we do is we, as you guys know, over the past several years, we you make a valiant effort and never to have to come back to the City Council and ask for additional funds. We have a budget, we stay within the budget.

B

This year, I made a valiant effort based on the pandemic to save money, we're saving money with the with the court budget officers weren't going to court whatever we could and did not need to spend I want to turn back to the city to reprogram with a really soft fade. So I would just hope that I would I could potentially be entrusted with the budget that we're requesting to stay within those numbers to not come back and look for additional funds, no one for me.

B

She was me knowing full well that in the event that we did not need to spend money on a given project assignment, what-have-you was money left at the end of coming into June of next year, so that money would be returned. That's also my goal. Okay,.

I

Lastly, for there's a push for student resource officers that are stationed at the department to be removed from the schools- that's something that's they're talking about. I spoke with the superintendent, and the value of that is about a hundred and thirty-eight thousand dollars. If that is cut from the School Department, what does that mean for those police officers.

B

Well, so I think number one I think that would be a serious mistake. You know the dollar amount is 138th, as you indicated the value that they bring to the young folks in our community and in the lasting, the lasting difference in their lives. I mean if that number was 200 number was 250. That number was 300 I'd say it's still worth it. You, you may or may not know in the criminal justice reform act. There was.

B

There was a doctor back in April 13 in 2018 there was a significant amount of effort and energy put into the high young hopes and there's a significant law changes as it pertains to the SRO and what they're responsible for we.

B

We in Chelsea never looked upon our s, our roses, disciplinarians in the school we looked at them and as as mentors for our young folks, we have offices like they've, been talking with thee, the former school superintendent, and she asked me the question how many of our offices were once students of Kelson high school 20 years, you've had the SRO program and I gave her a number of at least 40. These are long as they've these individuals who the offices at the time and the schools made a difference, a positive difference in their lives.

B

The office is I, have a laundry laundry list of things that they do. It is incredible, as far as their teaching a great program, the Pala program, what they do with thee, the some of you employment program, and we have what we call the youth police academy, which other deposits have for a week or two in chelsea for the last two years. It's been six weeks.

B

We have kids that have come in to this this program, some of the kids on the challenging circumstances, not knowing what they want to do, perhaps with their lives, the young kids and they come out of these programs and they know full well, they want to be a police officer. I was part of one program known as ypi now so for me, the Blues initiative for the permits Chelsea woven Brookline in we got everything in the four departments.

B

When one-on-one 12 offices with 12 young kids, it was one kid young kid. I had some some difficulties. He was asked to describe police the first day in his words, what he thought: a police. There was an expletive and then the second word was big and and I thought wow. This is gonna, be a challenge with this young man at the end of it. When we had the graduation in Chelsea, high school and and I saw him that he was elected by his peers as the guest speaker, he was 13 years old.

B

The most articulate kid I ever heard of my life was 30 years old. Talking like he was 23 seemed, like was college, educated, 13 years old from the middle school, and when he gave his speech he talked and his parents were proud. He turned to walk away and I was like feeling goose, bumps and I. Had the truthful moving stick his elbow in my ribs saying, WOW, and then he stopped, he turned around to come back and say, can I say one more thing and you know Mike was his.

B

He grabbed the mic with two hands and he's kind of troubling a bit, and he turned around and said. I know now. I was misguided. I was misdirected I know now what I want to do with my life? I want to finish school I want to go to college. He turned around. He looked at the young men and women were the police officers from the poor. The comments he said I want to be like them.

B

I want to be a police officer that was a two week program and that's all it was, and I've got goosebumps that I had water coming down the left side of my face, no no embarrassed, but you know I'm doing but like everybody else, it really touched me and so I think of SR, Rose and I. Think of people, the influence that can happen InP and in the long run, the impact that they can have is like Chelsea.

B

Toby I still have the same argument that I think nothing is more important. I.

I

Hear what you're saying, but of course, that's just one perspective, as you know, I do a lot of youth work in the city. I have relationships with a lot of parents, teachers, admin and a lot of times. What what I'm hearing from the community is that it's just? How do you justify having a police officer to kind of police students when we don't have the support that we need for young people as far as mental health services and all the trauma that a lot of our kids are are dealing with?

I

I would think personally would make more to have an additional social worker, a guidance counselor in the schools. I've worked with some of the student resource officers that have come out of Chelsea.

I

They have helped me with some of my basketball league and they don't really build relationships with some of the older kids and maybe it's because once they get a little older, they're kind of going through that phase, I don't know, but I just know that, while the program may work for the middle schools, it doesn't seem for me to be very productive in the high school. As from what I'm hearing from what I'm witnessing in my experience and what parents are saying so again, I just.

D

I

Basically, what you're seeing is that, even though we asked the superintendent, if we cut that from the budget, where would she apply it? And she says no we're, because we need the student resource officers and even though we know that it is systems like this that actually perpetuate the school to Prison Pipeline. As long as we're on the funding, our schools we're still going to continue to fund these positions, even though parents and teachers and students are saying that in might know where no.

B

I'm say that is spoken about. I've decided we're going to aim for these two offices. We would bring them back.

B

We would have to find money somewhere and the only three ways to.

I

Understand if we're saying that violent crime is down we're not in the top 100 homicide is down I. Just don't understand why we don't have an organizational structure that is based on the need that we actually have in the community. I guess: I! Guess that's where I am I feel like I mean it's great I mean that's a testament to the work that we've been able to do in the police department. We're doing a lot better crime is down, but then why so many police officers?

I

And if there isn't an ephah student resources resource officers in the school? Why would we continue to fund these positions that may not serve a need.

B

I, don't say just arrested at the very beginning about.

B

Honestly I feel like this has been reimagining resource, at least for the time that I mean I, can't tell you how many meetings I said whether there was eating what just eating with the chief in some district or axes and we're talking about.

B

How do we help me, this person who's creating some problems and it's never the interest ever we're going to said the answers, usually we're sitting with social service providers are on the team or whether it's not something or it's happening or it's some other entity is inside the best team and we're saying all right. This team finds this support. What if captain can find some awesome and it's never? The answer is never, let's take some criminal justice, and it's always is this something we can wrap around this person and give him/her eartha out baby I.

B

Think that's! We have in the way.

A

You know, counsel McDowell had brought the the question about reimagining repurposing funding, Police Department, but some of the ideas that have been proposed that I've been hearing about repurposing funding for the police department into social services reminded me of what you had said that the city seems to already have some of that going on.

A

You have a civilian on dan Cortese.

A

And I don't think it's partner at least budget for outside on the navigators and the money that goes with north. Something can up work.

B

That again, a track trying.

A

To work on crime in a non court way, so how much money not in this budget is spent for those contracts that we have.

D

Administrative law I know.

B

B

B

And at least in my tank yeah, the police have that be part of those discussions about.

A

What party to clean up in the downtown runway but to lost what we've done? Those who have the.

B

Addiction problem repeat also: there was a program the prostitution also trying to get them off the street, so they're not using drugs via.

A

The sex trade that there's.

B

Not this connection.

A

Or seamless focus, at least in the high school level, so is there I don't know? Roca is the go-to agency that deals with that the interactive, but is there any thoughts as to how do we engage and do something similar to someone who's on that path?.

A

What could be doing.

B

I mean: what's not just the you know, we used to have four uh sorrows when we started the relationship in the partnership back in the early nineties, and you know when we had to scale back over time. You know that that hurt, but honestly I can I can talk.

B

I can I can talk about this all night if you want but I think I'm, probably the wrong person to ask I think at some point you're going to talk to the school department and if what counsel of the DOE is saying that the parents don't want the SROs in the school's website. Think it's false.

B

If teachers don't want the SI roles in the schools, which I think is false, if the administrators don't want them there, then if that's the outcry, and then you know we I'd be you know: I'm reasonable, I, understand that and I just put the manager, and we got that discussion. I'm hearing, quite the opposite: I'm hearing officers that volunteer their time to coach the baseball team when they needed a coach I'm, a wrong officers that volunteer their time take kids down the weight room they want to.

B

You know build up muscle and so forth, I'm hearing kids that need connections for jobs.

B

These officers, who know people bring them out in the community and try to help them get jobs and and I could go on and on and on, not to mention probably one of the biggest ones that the climate that we live in right now, with the threat of an active shooter, we were averaging, I mean I've, it's a class that I teach and I can boy with the statistics, how alarming it is and the fact that we have our sorrows and other offices training our young people on the Ashland yeah the run, hide fight in how to be prepared and how to intervene and how to kind of notice, individuals that might be going astray in bringing forward with information so that we can intervene Buffett before something happens once they actually have that turn about face to that in just retreat.

B

Have offices on the school I think it's a huge huge mistake.

A

This is about is a question of I. Think we don't is saying there. Isn't there, maybe there's a segment in the high school that.

B

Isn't making that connection with me of sorrow, less likely than middle school and.

A

Similar to what we do at home, what.

B

If anything can be done and that it's brighter, so we have many of the you know talking about the hub. We have many students that are many what we call situations that are high school students. We have kids that are Detroit. We have kids that gang involved.

B

We have our sorrows and other officers and detectives they form relationships with these kids form relationships with their parent or their parents, or their guardians to prevent them from going astray so broke is a huge partner with that, as other groups, did it helped us in the lives of these young people? So again they don't put on that wrong path, and we try to just the idea right now is if they know the trying to determine the day over the last several years, it's just to flood them with services, let them with what they need.

B

In order to succeed and like Tom said you know, it's never never mentioned in the equation at all about a recipe unless, of course, is a serious crime that we have to we have to do. We have to do this, probably them into the criminal justice system, but beyond that, it's about helping them and again the the SROs they're, a wealth of knowledge for intelligence, where kids are actually going down the wrong path.

B

When the kids are the middle school yeah, that's not really no question when they get to the high school and they're 14 to 18 in some of our high school students, not 18th and 19th you're, not 20, it's 21. So you know having that presence. There is important and I always say this I bragged about this for a long time at the growth is excellent. I think the collaborative is excellent. The Boys and Girls Club we've had over several years.

B

At this point,.

D

D

B

A

Earlier you asked about the if we're increasing cameras and they said that they are not buying a new cameras this year.

B

We'll continue to ask, via the federal grant, for additional cameras if we have about 200 at some point, we make sure that every intersection along the broad way has a camera it'll, be the other Main Street Washington Avenue we'd like to do the same, going up to Prattville right now. There are some some blind spots so we'll continue to that's one of the main requests we have each and every year from the federal government is for the cameras.

B

To be the case, their interest, it might be a fee I, don't see if it's the fees by statute, but honestly $35 doesn't come to mind. It doesn't seems kind of high I'm, just not sure.

D

B

Program works and again I'll double-check I'll. Give you the exact number. The way it works is, if there's a public records request for a report in this case of a piece of video, then the time that it takes for the least paid employee in its $35 an hour for someone, a civilian employee to perform that function like an hour's worth of work, to pinpoint the video of the time I'll be ossicles. It I know one thing that it takes sometimes based on the request, five more than one hour to get a piece of video.

B

So what the request could take to me a four hours, but what we do charge it all. The the the bottom level would be the hourly rate of the employee. The employee makes the less than $35 an hour like Stovall I, don't know what the numbers I know. One thing is there's a lot of in terms of public records requests, there's a lot of information based on and they have.

L

B

Because you might ask the question: why so and that's the question that the school resource officers in the schools and if they are police officers, they are policing the schools, they must be making the rest, and we look at the number of arrests that the corona sorrows made this year. The answer is: zero. The coming up the current arrests that they made last year and again Cesaro the number of arrests they made the year before was to one officer was now a detective keeps waiting an occasion.

B

There was two individuals involved in a violent assault with a weapon, but beyond that, when I heard like across the state when we with the criminal justice reform act that they decriminalized disrupt disturbing the school assembly facility conduct in disturbing the peace in the school one of the questions I had it's like. Why? Why why we doing this is to say why is it necessary and they made the the point that the data shows that some school resource officers in some locations were making a considerable considerable amount of arrests on distributed school assembly?

B

So what I did when that came up?

B

I, don't know if it was true or false, based on the statewide data could I look at Chelsea and I went back for about five years and the number of arrests for disturbing the school and the other two charges was in it's something that I always say that the the cops here, the men and women in Chelsea I, give them a incredible credit for their communication skills, their ability when something is out of control to kind of deescalate the situation to bring it down and I think they do a fabulous job at that, and it's evident if I was here today and again.

B

I was asked that question and I said well. Last year we had, you know 19 arrest of the school. To me, that would seem very high, but to say zero I think is just our reinforces what they do, and their communication skills and again by statute and just by philosophy and by policy. They are not school disciplinary.

B

So the vast majority of the overtime, the way it's it's distributed, probably 80% of it- is what's called patrol overtime back flow, meaning when we have officers then based on their vacations, that they take feel their collective bargaining agreement their contract. If officers about sick or injured officers are just not not reporting for whatever the reason is many times based on minimum rating based on contractual obligations, they need to be replaced.

B

So if someone tonight will be in ten offices scheduled for work in two offices, one vacation, one officer was on a cough take and what office will sit low overall, I guess saving over the past 15 years. Sick time is really really low. It's really low when I brought that up and other council meetings in the past, but the realities we'd have to replace them with a backbone in the same without supervisors. So, probably again, 80% of that 75 to 80 percent of it is the backfill. The balance is.

B

Investigations could be a gang investigation and drug investigation. Certain follow-up investigations that go beyond the normal work day. Some of it, certainly, you know recently with Kobe 19 we're spending a lot of all the time in assisting with some of the food distribution sites, at the request of the many in terms of providing security and so forth, these large lines of all that, but that's primarily possible to divert.

A

Any questions from any other counselors at home.

J

A

The main budget you're looking at page 23 on the annotated city managers of America, it's page 10 and on the employee, salary.

B

B

You fill in which we are not filling.

B

G

Is in some situations, vacancies are covered with all the time and all the situations. When does extra staffing on that shift? Members are moved up, so you know the more out of greed. You spend it's actually a good thing, because it's less that you're spending on the overtime style, but it is facing.

G

And we are absorbing the six to eight safer salaries, so we're absorbing six salaries and giving out a two and a half percent pay raise and the whole entire budget submission is only to want to have to send a higher. So we we've already made about three hundred thousand dollars of cuts in this budget, trying to keep it very realistic- and this is my fourth going on fifth budget- we've budgeted very realistically with the bank with the help the council in the city manager, and in that time we've never asked.

G

We established.