Doubts Still Remain for Aldermen About CFO to Manage City Finances

Two items that were revisited Monday night were the orders to accept the local option of consolidated department of municipal finance to allow the city to draft an ordinance creating a finance department headed by a director of municipal finance, and an order of a home rule petition to the State Legislature to allow an ordinance to be drawn creating a Chief Financial Officer to orchestrate all the city’s financial planning for that department. Both actions failed, even after reconsideration.

But the Aldermen members did agree that action should be taken to manage city funds. Alderman Michael Marchese suggested that the city of Everett should explore a program that would allow new businesses to qualify for a discount of commercial rates.

Hopefully we can come up with something and get the city rolling,” Marchese said. “We have to do something to lower the cost of the city of Everett and get that tax rate under control,” he added.

Coinciding with Marchese’s suggestion was the previously discussed “blue ribbon” panel, a group of business leaders, community activists and elected officials whose focus would be to seek out businesses wanting to do business outside of Boston. It is still favored by the Board of Aldermen, but growth in the plan is stunted until the next meeting where Mayor Carlo DeMaria will be in attendance.

But what if something happened and the mayor wasn’t around? This very issue was discussed in the latter part of the evening where there was a resolution for the city of Everett to consider paying the President of the Board of Aldermen a stipend for every time he is active mayor. The acting mayor would have to step up to the responsibilities presented if there was ever a major occurrence such as a fire, or contracts needed to be signed. Board members seemed questionable about their comfort level with it, and referred the issue back to the sponsor.

Other motions before the Aldermen were as follows:

PAPERS FROM THE COMMON COUNCIL

2.C0036-12  Order/s/Councilor Daniel J. Napolitano, as President
To accept donations totaling $50.00 to the City of Everett’s Office of Human Services – Emergency Services Account as follows: $25.00 from Denise Hanlon, and $25.00 from Karen Ficociello.

PASSED IN CONCURRENCE, AND LETTERS OF THANKS BE SENT.

PETITIONS AND  LICENSES

3.A0075-12
Petition for 2nd Class Motor Dealer License from Badih El-Mhoury D/B/A METRO PLUS, INC. at 356 Broadway GRANTED

4A0077-12
Petition for flowering plants permit from Richie D’Angelo at 893 Broadway April 6-7-8th and May 11-12-13th for a total of six days. GRANTED 

5.A0078-12 Petition
1st Class Motor Dealer License from BMW Motorcycles of Cambridge, Inc. D/B/A Parkway Cycle at 1865 Revere Beach Parkway. GRANTED

6.A0079-12 Petition
2nd Class Motor Dealer License from BMW Motorcycles of Cambridge, Inc. D/B/A Parkway Cycle at 1865 Revere Beach Parkway. GRANTED

7.A0080-12 Petition
2nd Class Motor Dealer License from Anthony DeSimone D/B/A DeSimone’s Auto Solutions, Inc. at 12 Vine Street. GRANTED

8.A0087-12
To grant a 60-Day Auto Repair License for HERMANOS AUTO REPAIR, INC. at 88 East Elm Street. License to expire March 31, 2012.

AMENDED BY DELETING “60-DAY”, GRANTED AS AMENDED.

9.A0088-12
Petition for Repair Shop License from Paul Dinardo D/B/A EVERETT TRUCK REPAIR at 99 Bow Street. GRANTED

COMMITTEE  REPORTS

10.A0008-12
Committee on Rules & Ordinances Report on Ordinance offered by Aldermen Joseph McGonagle, Robert Van Campen, Chuck DiPerri and Councilor Lorrie Bruno: To prohibit aggressive solicitation and solicitation in certain places within Everett; with a recommendation to grant further time so that the City Solicitor and Police Chief could review the proposal and offer their recommendations at the next meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORT ACCEPTED, FURTHER TIME GRANTED

11.A0029-12
Committee on Rules & Ordinances Report on Resolution offered by Aldermen Mike Marchese and Sal Sachetta: That no department head, including Mayor and Superintendent of Schools, shall not come looking for additional monies in the event they overspend their budgets, and that cuts automatically are to be made to respected budgets except for natural disasters like snow removal; with a recommendation to request further time.

COMMITTEE REPORT ACCEPTED, FURTHER TIME GRANTED

12.A0032-12
Committee on Rules & Ordinances Report on Resolution offered by Alderman Mike Marchese: That the City explore implementing a program that would allow new business, according to their size and amount of employees, to qualify for a discount of commercial rates as a start up proving a specified amount to reach our 175%; with a recommendation to refer to the Assessor’s Office.

COMMITTEE REPORT ACCEPTED, REFERRED TO THE ASSESSOR’S OFFICE.

13.A0031-12
Committee on Finance Report on Resolution offered by Alderman Mike Marchese that in light of the recently adopted City Charter, that the City Clerk conduct a study of compensation levels for elected positions of city councilors, aldermen and mayor in surrounding cities of Malden, Medford, Revere and Somerville, to include term of office for said positions; with a recommendation to request further time and to invite the City Solicitor to the next meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORT ACCEPTED, FURTHER TIME GRANTED. 

14.A0086-12 Joint Convention Report and Order
For the City of Everett to vote to raise and appropriate or transfer funds from available funds a sum of money to operate the FY13 Water/Sewer Enterprise Fund.

JOINT COVENTION REPORT ACCEPTED, REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND INVITE MAYOR, CONSULTANT, CITY SERVICES DIRECTOR-TO BRING LIST OF INSTALLED METERS AND DIFFERENCE IN REVENUE, MAYOR’S CHIEF OF STAFF, CITY SOLICITOR AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MWRA TO EXPLAIN 10% INCREASE.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

15.A0070-12 Order/s/Alderman Joseph W. McGonagle, as President
To accept the local option of consolidated department of municipal finance, in accordance with M.G.L., C43C, S11. This local option allows the City to draft an ordinance creating a finance department headed by a director of municipal finance.

COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM MAYOR REQUESTING TO REFER MATTER BACK TO SPONSOR. ORDER FAILED TO PASS.

16.C0029-12 Order/s/Councilor Daniel J. Napolitano, as President
This order is a home rule petition to the State Legislature to allow the City of Everett to draft an ordinance creating a Department of Finance and the position of the Chief Financial Officer; necessitated to orchestrate all the City’s financial planning, budgeting and accounting under one umbrella. (Passed sent up for concurrence (reconsideration failed)).

COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM MAYOR REQUESTING TO REFER BACK TO SPONSOR. ORDER FAILED TO PASS.

17.A0065-12 Resolution/s/Alderman Robert Van Campen and Councilor Michael McLaughlin
That the City of Everett establish a “blue ribbon” panel of business leaders, community activists and elected officials whose focus will be to seek out businesses wishing to do business in Greater Boston, and market the City of Everett to them.

REFERRED TO MAYOR TO APPEAR ON THE MATTER NEXT MEETING.

18.A0066-12 Resolution/s/Aldermen Robert Van Campen and Councilor Rosemary Miller
In light of the transitional provisions contained therein, that the City Solicitor offer her opinion as to the legal status and effect of the recently ratified Everett City Charter.

REFERRED TO CITY SOLICITOR TO APPEAR NEXT MEETING.

19.A0067-12 Order/s/Aldermen Robert Van Campen, Michael Marchese and Sal Sachetta
In order to address the impacts of residential overcrowding and its impact on already strained city services, including school-related services, that the City of Everett enact a moratorium on the issuance of permits for any new residential development in the City for a period of one year, and to link said moratorium to a study of the City’s long-term housing needs.

REFERRED TO MAYOR TO APPEAR NEXT MEETING.

NEW BUSINESS

20.A0076-12 Ordinance/s/Alderman Robert J. Van Campen and Councilor David Rodrigues
That the City of Everett enact a zoning ordinance defining and restricting the proper location and placement of any home-base satellite dish and/or device on one’s property.

REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES & ORDINANCES.

21.A0081-12 Resolution/s/Alderman Michael K. Marchese
That the City/Fire Department to post capacity of Chambers to prevent overcrowding.

REFERRED TO CHIEF BUTLER TO RE-EVALUATE AND POST OUTSIDE CHAMBERS.

22.A0082-12 Resolution/s/Alderman Michael K. Marchese
City consider appropriating monies to provide adequate cameras on main streets to curb crime.

REFERRED TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND INVITE POLICE CHIEF, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND FIRE CHIEF.

23.A0083-12 Resolution/s/Alderman Michael K. Marchese
City considers fining landlords who allow businesses, which require licenses, to operate on their property (can sales, flower sales, barbecue) on whatever requires licensing from this Board.

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES & ORDINANCES

24.A0084-12 Resolution/s/Alderman Michael K. Marchese
City consider returning special police badges to all councilors to help enforce petty ordinances that the police/fire departments are unaware of.

AMENDED BY DELETING WORD “COUNCILORS AND PETTY ORDINANCES THAT THE POLICE /FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE UNAWARE OF” AND INSERT “ALDERMEN TO HELP ENFORCE ALL LICENSES ISSUED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.” REFERRED, AS AMENDED, TO THE MAYOR’S OFFICE.

25.A0085-12 Resolution/s/Alderman Michael K. Marchese
City considers paying President of the Board of Aldermen a stipend every time he is Acting Mayor.

REFERRED BACK TO SPONSOR.

26.A0089-12
BOA Worksheet Monday, February 27, 2012
1.Sponsor: Alderman Michael Mangan – That the City considers replacing old wooden bleachers at the Recreation Center, as they are extremely old and unsafe.
Referred to: Mr. Peter Pietrantonio, Director of City Services and Recreation Commission.
2. Sponsor: Alderman Michael Mangan – That the tree in front of 332 Broadway be trimmed, as it blocks the sight of vehicles entering and exiting the pasta store next door.
Referred to: Mr. Peter Pietrantonio, Director of City Services and the Park Services.

REFERRED TO RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS

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