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Date: 7/15/2020
Only four councilors supported sending a motion made by City Councilor Joel McAuliffe to committee that would have a discussion about exempting the city from civil service as the means to hire police and firefighters.
McAuliffe said he expected a “robust” discussion.
Councilor James Tillotson said such a discussion was “premature” because of the bill filed by Gov. Charlie Baker. That bill, as described by Matt Murphy and Michael P. Norton of the State House News Service, “would create an independent oversight and investigatory body to hold police accountable, and create a system to certify law enforcement officers at all levels of government, with clear guidelines on the use of force by police. Law enforcement officers would also be newly required to intervene if they witness police misconduct, and submit to racism training.”
Baker’s bill is in the Senate and as of July 11, “Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) said there is bipartisan agreement on 80-90 percent of the bill, but a section dealing with qualified immunity of law enforcement officers is dividing the Senate. He said a bill that’s less expansive and focuses on areas of agreement is more likely to yield ‘timely action.’ Qualified immunity is a doctrine that prohibits civil rights suits against government officials where unconstitutional conduct had not been clearly established as illegal at the time it occurred,” reported the State House News Service.
“I am disappointed that the leaders of the city council will not allow a public hearing on this proposal,” said City Councilor Joel McAuliffe in a written statement. “I understand people have strong opinions on both sides of this issue, but to not be willing to allow for an open and honest discussion, it goes against everything we are supposed to stand for as elected representatives.”
A motion made by McAuliffe to upgrade the technology of the city council meetings to allow people to see one another through video conferencing was sent to the Communications Committee.
The council also approved $3,369 to provide a car for a member of the Public Health Department. Councilor Frank Laflamme said that while he would vote for a stopgap solution now, he would like to see the purchase of a suitable vehicle in the future.
The council also approved $300,000 to pay for additional Fuller Road design and engineering that was not covered by the existing budget and authorized the city treasurer to issue refunding bonds, restructuring loans concerning the city’s water department. In this case, councilors explained the new agreements would be used to keep water rates at present level. There would be a saving of $100,000 for fiscal year 2021 and 2022.
“This restructuring and refinancing will prevent us from increasing the water rates for this coming year at a time when things are rough out there for a lot of people. This is a good move for the city,” Councilor James Tillotson explained.
The council accepted a $300,000 grant to address “small to medium brownfields with particular emphasis placed on the Willimansett neighborhood.”
Jeannette Jez was reappointed to the License Commission and Al Kendall as a member of the Commission on Disability.