ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA

Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Jack Burke, 49 Canobieola Road, read a prepared statement regarding an October 7^th meeting on the former Bea’s Sandwich Shop site.  (copy attached) He then submitted to Council a request to censure the Vice-Chair.  Richard McCann, 1097 Riverside Drive, Methuen, MA thanked all of the Council members for allowing him to come before them, noting his respect for all of them.  He explained in detail how he was interrupted at the last meeting and told that he would be arrested if he continued to speak against the boaters in the room.  He stated that he did not speak against the boaters, as the Councilwoman would have people believe.  In fact, he spoke in favor of the boaters.  He was only concerned with the rules and regulations and his concerns with potential problems in the area.    

Chairman Lahey stated that Mr. McCann is making accusations and he will not allow that to continue as he’s already contested the way the meeting was run.Mr. McCann said he realizes that and does not want to disrespect people this evening the way he was disrespected.  He then thanked the Council for allowing him to speak.   Jennifer Thibedeau, 9 Vida Street, spoke on the dirt bike issue.  She stated that she has a half-acre of land and her son has a dirt bike.  His friends come over.  They stay on her property.  They don’t start riding early in the morning, even in the summer time, nor do they run past dark.  They don’t go on the street.  They have nowhere else to ride.  The ATVs are no louder than landscape lawnmowers or leaf blowers or anything of that nature. No one has ever approached her to tell her that it wasn’t right to do.  It is her private property.  She lives right by the trails at the river and can’t ride down there because it is the property of the City of Methuen.  She doesn’t understand why the Council wants to ban them on private property.  The kids have nothing to do and she doesn’t want to see them out in the streets.  She has to listen to the neighbor’s kids’ scream and the dogs barking and everything else.  She doesn’t let the dirt bikes get out of hand. Josh Gallant, 15 Elsmere Ave, spoke on the dirt bike issue.  He stated that he and his fiancé purchased a house in Methuen in May.  They brought with them two ATVs that they operate out of state.  According to the ordinance, there are no exceptions to the rules.  The only time that he operates his on his property is loading and unloading from the trailer, which requires starting it as it weights 600 pounds.  The other time he uses it is in the winter to plow his driveway with it.  He’s worried that he’s going to be getting tickets because a neighbor might move in that doesn’t agree with what he’s doing.  There are kids in the neighborhood that do ride and he’s afraid that when they lose their ability to do what they’re doing that their family may have issues that trickle down to him.         

Paul Tagliaferri, 118 Maple Street also spoke on the dirt bike ordinance.  He has an ATV and it is registered in NH, that’s where he rides.  He does understand how neighbors feel about people riding an ATV or dirt bike.  He’s more than willing to challenge the noise ordinance that the ATV is 205 less decibels than a lawnmower or tractor.  A weedwacker is louder than an ATV.  He also uses his ATV to plow his driveway, which is 100 to 150 feet.  He only uses it for a limited time when it snows and his snow is not pushed out to the street but pushed onto his property.  If he’s not allowed to use his ATV, he’s going to have to purchase a snow blower.  With this economy, he cannot afford one and he’s not asking for the town to come plow him out.  He doesn’t see that an ATV (less noise) being ridden on the hot top on his driveway is going to cause any problems.  He suggested that Methuen collect a fee to make him register his ATV in the town of Methuen to allow him to plow his driveway.  He’d be willing to pay $25 a year.  For him it’s worth paying.  He’s not trying to cause any problems nor cross that boundary.  He pays his taxes for property he owns and if he misunderstood that then maybe he shouldn’t be paying his taxes.  He’s been in the city a very long time, participates in a lot or organizations; soccer, T-ball in the past with all his kids, giving back to the community.  He’s never asked for a cent for coaching.  He loves doing it and is his way of giving back to the town.  He reiterated that he’d be willing to pay a fee to be allowed to use his ATV to plow his driveway.                   

Mark Iannuccilli, 117 Hampshire Road, spoke in opposition to the dirt bike ban. He has five acres of land on Hampshire Road.  His son only has one place to ride and that’s their property.  He asked what his son is going to do if Council takes that away from them.  He’d like to be able to continue to ride on their own property in Methuen                

PUBLIC SERVICE:Grants:  None

Licenses: Special Excavation – 34 Baremeadow Street.  MOTION BY:  Councilor Zanni, seconded by Councilor Cronin to approve.  UPON VOTE: UNANIMOUS. 

Contracts:  None 

OTHER OFFICERS OR COMMITTEE REPORTS – None 

OLD BUSINESS

TR-08-68 Resolution Amending Traffic Rules and Regulations of the City of Methuen – Medford Avenue MOTION BY:  Councilor Zanni, seconded by Councilor Pappalardo to approve.  UPON VOTE: UNANIMOUS 

TR-08-69 Resolution Amending Traffic Rules and Regulations of the City of Methuen – Tenney Street – Limited ParkingMOTION BY:  Councilor Zanni, seconded by Councilor Cronin to approve.  UPON VOTE: UNANIMOUS. 

TR-08-70 Resolution Authorizing a Transfer of Funds to the Unpaid Bills Account; Workers Compensation  MOTION BY:  Councilor Pappalardo, seconded by Councilor Kannan to approve.  UPON VOTE: UNANIMOUS. 

Ordinances:

TO-08-07 Ordinance Amending Chapter 9, Section 9-92 of the Methuen Municipal Code – Prohibiting the Operation of Dirt BikesCaptain Haggar submitted an amendment to the City Council.  He stated that a few weeks ago, he’d written a letter to the Mayor’s office requesting the feasibility to amend the current dirt bike operation within the City of Methuen.  At this time, an individual is allowed to use a dirt bike on their own property.  They are not allowed to have friends or other family members ride.  It has to be immediate family to operate on their own property.  The flaw that they have found with the operation of dirt bikes was that even though a person could ride on their own property, individuals that have a small property are right on top of the next door neighbor’s residence, which has become routinely a hindrance and caused a negative impact on the quality of life for a neighboring dwelling.  His proposed amendment was to still allow dirt bike operation as defined in Chapter 90B under Recreational Vehicles just to move it to give a buffer zone to the neighbor’s house to stop having a negative impact.  Since this was advertised in the paper, being the commander of the field operations bureau, which is the patrol division, which does have to respond to these ordinance violations, he received several calls from constituents regarding their support for such a buffer zone for the operation of their neighbors’ dirt bikes.  They have all stated that they were nervous about speaking in public and about identifying themselves in fear of retaliation.  Since then, he’s submitted additional amendments to the original ordinance brought forward to include exceptions as follows:

a.                    Operation of a 4 w heeled All Terrain Vehicle with an unmodified exhaust system, used in the performance of completing of residential property maintenance, which would cover some of the issues brought forth tonight in public participation.

b.                   The commercial use of such 4 wheeled all terrain vehicles.  His thought process on this was that Avedesian farm uses a four-wheeler in the performance of their commercial business, Bonanno Farm and several other landscapers use four wheel vehicles.  Even the high school uses one.

c.                    Being the operation of a recreational vehicle during the loading and unloading of it to/from the location it is stored from on the residence to a trailer, vehicle or other means of transport it to/from the property.  Which would again cover individuals who want to take it from their property that would not be obviously given a violation if they were loading it or unloading it, moving it back and forth to their property

d.                   The operation of “recreational vehicles” by the law enforcement agencies or medial agencies in the performance of official duties MOTION BY:  Councilor Zanni, seconded by Councilor Cronin to adopt (for discussion) Councilor Zanni said it is a quality of life issue and he realizes that Captain Haggar received calls from individuals for and against this.  Council has to look at how it affects our entire community.  Living in the west end, he’s aware that there has been an ongoing abundance of problems for the past two or three years involving two particular streets, on particular neighbor.  It’s been a detriment to that entire area and the police are well aware of this.  Meetings were held with the neighbors.  He further explained that the ATV is out of the garage and it’s a very small back yard.  They have a look out and when the neighbor calls the police, the ATV is put away.  The police don’t see it and the individuals say they never used it.  Once the police leave, the ATV comes back out again.  The other thing is that there are pros and cons here and Council should debate the issue.  He is in favor of the ordinance but thinks it is has to be tweaked.  An individual spoke tonight in regards to the ATV that he uses for his own personal use and he doesn’t think any of the Councilors are against that.  500’ may be a little bit too far but he really doesn’t know yet.  It is not a good thing for people that use their ATV in an area that’s actually smaller than the Great Hall.  There are some other exemptions here for people that use their vehicles such as Mann’s Apple Orchards for commercial use on their property. 

They do have trees that are very close to the property lines with neighbors and they get the apples using those vehicles.  If we were designating a 500’ buffer, a portion of those would not be able to be harvested.  There should be a little bit more discussion. It should be tweaked a little more.  Council could meet with Randy Haggar and the residents to address their concerns, how they’d like to improve it themselves.  He is in favor of the ordinance, but he is also looking at the residents who have an interest in their ATVs that are used wisely.  Again, people take liberties the way things are and to him it is a quality of life issue.  After other Councilors speak, he would like to table this for a Workshop with residents that are for or against, along with Captain Haggar and make this an ordinance that we can all live with.   Councilor Kannan asked, if Council passes this ordinance, if it will address and stop the ongoing complaints regarding dirt bikes.Captain Haggar said although they do have a very good noise ordinance on the books, his experience has been that it’s great for a commercial establishment that is constantly making noise.  There are different steps police have to take prior to using the meter, such as checking for an ambient sound (the normal sound) of the resident neighborhood.  The problem they’re finding with instances like this is that the officer has to go out there, set up the meter, and has to calibrate the meter.  The individuals see him doing what he’s doing and they shut down.  Then they don’t have a violation.  The noise ordinance they have now is great for a nightclub that every Friday and Saturday night they’re getting calls that the music is too loud.  The police can go out there, set up the meter, take noise levels and work with that establishment, give them violations if necessary.  Its great for sitting out on Broadway for a half hour, the officers set up out there, as loud mufflers or amplified radios come through to take a reading, pull them over, and using them in those cases.  They’re finding that in these cases when an officer responds out for something quick that’s happening there and then that the noise ordinance violation although is great is not particularly working that well on this.Councilor Kannan asked what this ordinance does, if the police don’t see the individuals on the mini bikes because they know the police are coming and they put the ATV in the garage.                                                   

Captain Haggar said if someone calls on a recorded phone line, the officer could go forward with the hearing, and write a city ordinance violation.  If it did get appealed and go to court, they would at that point have to identify the individual who made the initial complaint and how the police got involved.                                        

Councilor Kannan said she agrees with some of these addendums and agrees with Councilor Zanni as well, the 500’ may be excessive and like the resident Jennifer Thibedeau said she’s on a half acre.  Her children are riding on their property, there’s no place for them to go and they don’t seem to be bothering anyone.  Mr. Iannuccilli has quite a bit of acreage and his son would be losing out on recreation.  She would tend to caution what people do on their property and would like to get some more information like Councilor Zanni said so that Council can make an informed decision to help all the residents here. Councilor Pappalardo said she too is in favor of this.  If Council wants to have a Workshop, that’s fine.  She’d like everyone to know that Council is not trying to punish everybody that has a dirt bike or an ATV.  She’s had quite a few calls in the past week or so, including a couple of elderly women, east end as well as the west end.  It’s disturbing that the ongoing problem on the west end mentioned by Councilor Zanni ongoing for the past several years cannot be curtailed.  This area talked about is a very dense area, a neighborhood.  Councilor Pappalardo said she feels that everybody has a right to peace and quiet, a right to quality of life.  It’s not a good quality of life if individuals can’t go outside of their home without smelling the gas from these motors or without the dust going in their windows.  On the other hand, you do have a right if you an ATV, you should be able to use it with respect to your neighbors, that’s all we’re asking is a little bit of respect from your next door neighbor, somebody that’s got four or five acres of land like Mr. Iannuccilli she doesn’t think he has anything to worry about.  She did get some calls and didn’t realize that people were using these for snowplowing. 

The additional amendments are good and she has no problem with Council holding a Workshop on this issue.      Councilor Quinn thanked Captain Haggar but stated that it may be unconstitutional.  She doesn’t know how much Council wants to step in as local government and tell people what they can and cannot do on their own property.  There is already a noise ordinance in effect and its there for a reason.  If these same people are call all the time over and over again and are not getting any satisfaction, with all due respect, that’s the police department’s job to take care of it.  If they’re getting three and four phone calls at a time on the same property, then there is a serious problem that should be looked at.  She noted Councilor Pappalardo said at the last meeting that she brought this forward.  But Councilor Quinn stated that for ten phone calls, she doesn’t think legislation to prohibit ATVs in peoples’ own property is the way to go.  She suggested setting up a direct hotline and an ATV unit, set up in the police department to just curb those calls.  Maybe there could be some kind of voice mail so that if police officers are busy at the time, they can go back, it can be dated and can be pointed out that these are numerous calls from the same address.  She does think that the modified exhaust should be looked at, maybe a penalty to modified exhausts systems, but as far as recreational or plowing on your own property, she is not in favor of this.  It is unconstitutional and she thinks local government steps in too much sometimes.  She thanked the audience for coming.  She received many calls from the west end saying please look into this further.  She understands the quality of life issue.  If her neighbors have problems, they get together and talk it out.  Unfortunately that’s not every neighborhood and legislation shouldn’t be brought forward for ten phone calls.  Again, she would be in favor of a workshop in order to understand a little more and to further discuss the issue, but right now she is not in favor of this.  Councilor Pappalardo stated that she did not bring this issue forward.Councilor Quinn noted that it was said by Councilor Pappalardo that someone called her.                        

Chairman Lahey said the police brought it forward.  He suggested that Council form a committee of people such as the committee set up to discuss the dog issue rather than having a workshop, consisting of a Councilor who’s pro and a Councilor who’s against with some pros and cons and either Captain Haggar or Sgt. Havey set up their own committee and maybe tweak the legislation.  He just doesn’t think it has to be done in one meeting or two meetings.  If you get the input form residents like we did with the people who were so concerned with the dogs, we get the people who are concerned about their quality of life and others we could develop a compromise that might work. Councilor Leone said he is opposed to this for a number of reasons he will state later and would like to be on the committee.    Councilor Zanni said, as far as a committee goes, this is a little bit different.  The dog ordinance was over a six-month period.  Over a six-month period the ATV problem will escalate and continue.  Captain Haggar has already made some suggestions this evening.  Councilor Zanni said he doesn’t think there are many other issues out there.  If Council holds a hearing for public input, Council could resolve this sooner.  He also spoke to the Chief of Police along with Captain Fram as well and visiting last week with Captain Haggar and they are very much in favor of a type of ordinance.  The police have better things to do than going to houses because of ATV problems.  We’re looking at quality of life issues in our community and if Council has a Workshop, they can resolve the minor issues that are there.  Some people think it is unconstitutional but it is a quality of life issue.  If he had a neighbor running an ATV in his back yard at all times, he would be very upset.  He’s taking the side of the people that have the problem now. 

It currently does exist and the police have gone out to this particular neighborhood, met with the residents and it has not been resolved.  The committee is a great idea but this is a little different because committees like anything else take a long period of time.  He’d prefer Council holding a public hearing or a workshop and then move on. Chairman Lahey disagreed with Councilor Zanni regarding the committee and noted that there are Councilors for and against the ordinance.  Individuals losing their right to run their vehicles are not given the opportunity to come up with suggestions to determine if there was a way that they could coexist with their neighbors.  If Council wishes, he will call for a public hearing but he would prefer a committee.Councilor Pappalardo said the people in the audience are obviously doing things legally and right and she doesn’t think they’ve had any complaints from the neighbors.  They’re doing it legally.  There are a lot of people that are not doing it within the law and it’s causing problems for the neighbors.  Councilor Giordano motioned that Council take a vote on this ordinance, as amended up or down, seconded by Councilor Quinn.Councilor Leone said wants time to review the amendment Council received tonight.  Councilor Giordano and Councilor Quinn withdrew the motion.MOTION BY:  Councilor Leone, seconded by Councilor Quinn to table and set a committee.  UPON VOTE:  5 no, 3 yes (Clr. Leone, Clr. Quinn, Clr. Lahey)MOTION BY:  Councilor Pappalardo, seconded by Councilor Zanni to table for a Public Hearing.  UPON VOTE:  5 yes, 2 no (Clr. Giordano, Clr. Cronin) 

Councilor Cronin asked if a Councilor on the prevailing side would make a motion to reconsider TO-08-08 An Ordinance Amending the Wage and Salary Classification Plan Schedule as he was on vacation and didn’t get the opportunity to vote. He’d like to table it until the next meeting because he has a lot of questions he’d like to ask the Mayor.Councilor Giordano left the room.MOTION BY: Councilor Quinn, seconded by Councilor Cronin to reconsider TO-08-08, An Ordinance Amending the Wage and Salary Classification Plan Schedule.  Chairman Lahey said he’s against it.  The Council just received a list of budget cuts from the Mayor.  When the item comes up for discussion again, he will give his explicit reasons as to why he feels Council should not be considering this.        Councilor Cronin said that is why he wanted to table it until the next meeting, until the Mayor is present because he has numerous questions based on the letter Council received this evening.  There are some other items that are in our budget that he doesn’t feel should be there either.UPON VOTE: 5 yes, 2 no (Clr. Pappalardo, Clr. Lahey) MOTION BY:  Councilor Cronin, seconded by Councilor Quinn to table until the next meeting so we can quiz the Mayor.  UPON VOTE:  6 yes, l no (Clr. Pappalardo)Councilor Giordano returned to the room. 

Appointments:  None 

NEW BUSINESS

TR-08-71 Resolution Authorizing the Filing of a Home Rule Petition (Req. of Clr. Zanni)  MOTION BY:  Councilor Zanni, seconded by Councilor Leone to adopt.Councilor Leone said this is the third or the fourth time that a situation like this has come up.  The last time it came up both he and Councilor Zanni asked the Solicitor to take what ever steps he had to take to take Methuen out of the list of age restricted communities so that these wouldn’t have to be handled on a case by case basis.  It was his understanding that Methuen had taken the proper steps years ago but that Civil Service never picked it up.  Councilor Leone asked the Chairman to discuss it with the Solicitor to see if there is some action the Council has to take or just some follow up action that the Solicitor needs to take.Chairman Lahey said he did speak with him in the past and will bring it up again for clarification.  MOTION BY:  Councilor Leone, seconded by Councilor Kannan to table for a public hearing.  UPON VOTE:  UNANIMOUS. 

TR-08-72 Resolution Authorizing Expenditure form the Edwin J. Castle Fund Methuen Santa Parade Band ($10,000) City of Methuen Family Fall Festival at Greycourt Park ($2,800) for a grand total of $12,800. MOTION BY: Councilor Giordano, seconded by Councilor Zanni to adopt.  UPON VOTE: UNANIMOUS. TR-08-73 Resolution Amending Traffic Rules and Regulations (Haverhill Street Traffic Safety Study Recommendations)MOTION BY:  Councilor Pappalardo, seconded by Councilor Zanni to adopt.  UPON VOTE: UNANIMOUS. Ordinances:  None 

ANY OTHER BUSINESS FOR THE GOOD AND WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY REQUEST OF COUNCILORS 

October 25^th at the Greycourt Park, beginning at noon.   The rain date is Sunday, October 26^th.  If it is raining on Sunday, it will be held at the Timony School. Councilor Quinn reported that a great Fall Festival was held at the Marsh Corner School last Saturday.  She thanked the PTO, the administration, Mr. Lannan and all the teachers and the parents who participated.Councilor Quinn reported that she had a tour of the police station, as many of the Councilors did, with Captain Fram, Mike Wnek, and the Chief.  The conditions are deplorable at the Methuen Police Department.  There are leaky ceilings.  Mold is on the ceilings, on the doorways, on the rugs, and leaky pipes in the bathrooms.  She heard it’s been the same way for forty years.  Something has got to be done.  She knows the city is in tight fiscal economy but the way they’re working in this is disgraceful.  There is a health hazard that has to be addressed immediately.  She asked that the Council support her and bring a request to the Mayor for a mold check and carpets be ripped out.  It is just the beginning of what really needs to be done there because this is a health and sanitation factor.  It seriously needs to be looked at.  She hoped the Council would support her and bring this to the Mayor’s attention.  Councilor Giordano asked when the Council would be setting the tax rate this year.Mr. Kelly said they’re hoping some time early December. He’d like to go forward earlier this year.  Normally, it’s not so much us; it’s the Department of Revenue. 

Right now, they’re working with the Assessor to get that value submitted and approved.  They’d like to set the rate in November but it’s all up to the Department of Revenue.Councilor Giordano noted that Council received a memo from the Mayor relative to budget cuts from the Governor’s office.  He’d like the Council to meet with the Mayor and Mr. Kelly to see which direction he’s going to go as far as these cuts are concerned.   Chairman Lahey said in response to that, Councilor Zanni did request that we have a Workshop with the Town Accountant prior to our Public Hearing at the next meeting.Councilor Giordano asked if the Executive Session has been postponed.Chairman Lahey indicated it has been postponed.Councilor Pappalardo stated that she spoke with Tom Kelly regarding free cash and how Methuen has none.  Mr. Kelly agreed.  Councilor Pappalardo asked how this could be rectified.Mr. Kelly said in discussing free cash with the Mayor, it’s a good idea to use free cash; actually it’s a reserve to back up the operating budget.  He and the Mayor have been in discussion and any new revenues coming in for the city, he’d like to put into the stabilization fund, which eventually gets closed out to free cash at year-end.  Our biggest problem this year, where revenues lagged, it was all in licenses, building permits, gas permits, anything that had to do with new housing, adding anything onto your house, etc.  The permits just weren’t there, revenues didn’t meet what they estimated, and snow and ice did a number on the reserves.  There was an $800,000 deficit.  They were looking at maybe leaving the deficit on the books and raising it by taxation (an alternative). 

But the deficit was covered out of free cash and it decreased any type of surplus in accounts.  At this stage of the game, we need to put together a policy statement, start addressing the stabilization fund and the operating budget.  It’s a tough thing to do when you’re trying to provide services and want to put money aside.  For example, with any of these companies coming to Methuen, if they’re giving mitigation money that’s non discretionary, then we should think about putting it into the stabilization fund and the reserve fund.  He and the Mayor are working on it.    Councilor Pappalardo asked how having no free cash affects our bond rating. Mr. Kelly said it might affect it.  He hasn’t gone to a credit rating because we haven’t borrowed anything just yet.  It will have an impact on us.  Right now we are A2. Councilor Pappalardo asked if there is money in the sidewalk fund.Mr. Kelly said he spoke to Community development and there is a sidewalk fund.  It’s in the guaranteed deposit and there’s approximately $8,000 in that account right now.Councilor Pappalardo said she sent the Mayor a memo regarding the rebroadcast of Council meetings during the week.  The Mayor stated its being looked into.  She asked the Chair to send him a memo asking him the status on that.  Councilor Cronin said evidently Mr. McCann felt that he wasn’t treated quite well at a meeting.  He suggested that the Chairman send a letter apologizing on behalf of the City Council. i.e., if he felt that he was mistreated in any way and promise that all the rules and regulations that apply to this Council will be carried out in the future and hopefully put it behind us and move forward.Chairman Lahey disagreed. 

The citizens made their statement that they didn’t like the way the meeting was run.Councilor Leone said a letter is not warranted.Councilor Cronin said his suggestion was a general letter that if the individual felt he wasn’t treated properly, Council could send a general apology.Chairman Lahey said he’s not sure if there’s anything to apologize for. Councilor Leone noted that it wasn’t a Council meeting.Councilor Quinn said it wasn’t a legal meeting, noting that someone had requested the minutes, which there aren’t any. Councilor Leone asked about the sidewalk fund and if Mr. Kelly could get the Council an accounting of that fund.  Mr. Kelly said he could.Councilor Leone asked for the source of funds, disposition of funds, for the last five years.  There isn’t that much activity.Mr. Kelly said he thinks they established it in 2006.Councilor Leone said he’s been contributing to that fund for fifteen years in various ways.  He noted it goes back a lot longer than 2006.Mr. Kelly said it was Community Development who established it.  If it goes back further than that, he’ll go look at it.  He’ll be glad to provide a full accounting of it. Councilor Giordano referred to the water and sewer and asked Mr. Kelly, where we didn’t use very much water this summer if we are going to have to have to put more money into that account because we didn’t bring the revenue in. 

Mr. Kelly said as a matter of fact, the report he handed out tonight, all the healthiest part of our revenue collections right now are in Water and Sewer.  They’re meeting the target.Councilor Giordano said we did make some money even though a lot of people didn’t use their water.Mr. Kelly said he hasn’t talked to Frank Russo about that yet.  But right now the collections are there. Chairman Lahey informed Mr. Kelly that the City Council would schedule something for the next meeting.  Mr. Kelly said he is prepared.  He’s been working with the Mayor on this.  They finished this report last week.  When a quarter closes, it takes fifteen days to get all the revenues in so we generate this report.  That’s what this report is all about.  He gets this monthly but there are some things that he and the Mayor need to talk to the Council about.Chairman Lahey asked him if he thought that this is a meeting that could be done in a half hour.  Councilor Leone suggested scheduling the Workshop after a meeting so Council may take as much time as they need.  Councilor Lahey said the public hearing for the ATVs would be at 6:00 p.m., traffic at 6:30 p.m., the regular meeting and then the workshop.Councilor Zanni said he asked about the amount of foreclosures we have in our community and suggested that could be part of the discussion.  There are 125 foreclosures in our community.Chairman Lahey said the Workshop would be held after the City Council meeting. MOTION BY:  Councilor Zanni, seconded by Councilor Giordano to adjourn.UPON VOTE: UNANIMOUS. 

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. I do hereby certify that the Methuen City Council adopted the foregoing minutes by a unanimous vote on November 3, 2008.                                                                                                                                                                                                 

COUNCIL CLERK