On Monday, Nov. 27, two new Chelsea City Council members and a new mayor met for the first time and tackled a lengthy agenda.
Mayor Melissa Johnson and new Council Members Rick Catherman and Tony Iannelli joined recently re-elected Cheri Albertson, Peter Feeney, Frank Hammer and Jane Pacheco. They listened to a brief presentation by Lynn Fox about the Human Rights Commission’s (HRC) plan, including the group’s goal to raise awareness of what the commission does and to gather information from the community about their human rights experiences and priorities.
Fox told the City Council the commission also wants to identify opportunities for educational activities. Included in the phase one plan are two surveys — one for groups and another for individuals.
No action was taken on the plan, but it is expected that once City Council members have a chance to share their comments with the commission, a vote will be taken on the initial HRC plan. Once approved by the City Council, it’s expected to take the HRC about 180 days to complete.
The City Council also unanimously adopted a 2018 poverty/hardship guideline resolution and a resolution that allows city residents to send letters of protest to the Board of Review so they do not have to go in person. The guidelines can be found here.
Among the business items approved were the unanimous approval of former City Council Member Marcia White to the city’s Board of Review.
Also unanimously approved was the City Council’s meeting dates for 2018.
Although the City Council normally meets on the first and third Mondays of the month at 7 p.m., in 2018, there are four holidays that fall on Mondays, Plus, meeting dates were changed for those Mondays that would normally take place close to a holiday.
For instance, in January, the City Council will meet on the second and fourth Mondays. In February, the second meeting of the month will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 20. In addition, in July, the council will meet on the second and fourth Mondays and in September, council will meet on Sept. 4, a Tuesday.
In November, like this year, the council will meet on the first and fourth Monday. By charter, the City Council only meets once in December, and in 2018 that will be on Dec. 17.
The City Council approved a work session that will begin at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18 so new members can learn more about the many boards and commissions on which council members serve, so the elected officials can decide which members will sit on what boards.
The City Council also unanimously agreed to amend the city’s zoning map on second reading, granting a request to rezone two parcels near the intersection of Grant and Chandler streets from agricultural district to single family residential district moderate density.
The council also heard about a road closure for the filming of a movie in December, which will be covered in an upcoming story.
