[5:51] I like to call this February 9th council meeting to order. Everybody, please

[5:57] stand for a moment of silence.

[6:08] Please salute the flag to the flag of the United States of

[6:13] America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God,

[6:19] indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[6:26] » Mr. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Peasant [clears throat]

[6:29] » here. >> Miss Cullen

[6:31] » here. Miss Rodriguez, uh, she just text me say she has heater

[6:37] problems at home. Uh, Mr. Cousins >> here.

[6:42] » Miss Figerero >> here.

[6:44] » Mr. Johnson >> here.

[6:45] » Mr. Krochi here. >> Mr. Teachers here.

[6:51] » Okay. Uh, I don't think we have anybody in the public again tonight, so there

[6:55] will be no public participation. So, we do have uh, Mr. Pezy here tonight

[7:03] to do a presentation on uh a program that we've been discussing with him and

[7:10] he agreed to carry a ball with this which we appreciate. So why don't you uh

[7:17] do whatever you want to do and do you need that board from outside or does

[7:22] Matt have it on TV? >> He has it on TV.

[7:25] » He has it on TV. >> Yeah.

[7:26] » I'm going to turn around so I can see it.

[7:30] Well, good evening. Uh, it's good to be here again. I appreciate appreciate the

[7:34] time and it it really won't be long. Um, >> Raph and I have talked for a while about

[7:41] the best way to communicate with the public that to to give them a more

[7:45] indepth understanding of various things that the bureau does. Okay? Uh, you guys

[7:50] vote on something, you might talk about it for five minutes or so at the council

[7:53] meeting to explain what the motion's about. And sometimes citizens might like

[7:58] more information. And uh so we we we talked about that and we talked about a

[8:03] newsletter, but I think we're living in an age where people prefer to see and

[8:08] hear things rather than uh rather than read them. Maybe that's unfortunate, but

[8:11] I think it's the reality. So uh we came up with the idea of

[8:17] having creating we actually we created a a logo called uh the burrow in brief and

[8:25] what it's intended to do is provide maybe 10 minute 8 8 minutes to 15

[8:30] minutes no certainly no more than that uh short explanations zeroing in on a

[8:36] specific thing you're doing. All right so let me let me just play this for you

[8:39] and uh you'll get a better idea.

[8:44] Welcome to the burrow in brief, a new program designed to keep residents

[8:48] informed and connected to what's happening in our burrow. I'm Bill Peza,

[8:53] and along with burrow officials and other community leaders, I'll be sharing

[8:57] updates on the initiatives, projects, and decisions shaping our community.

[9:02] Each episode focuses on one topic and breaks down the what, the why, and the

[9:08] impact, all in about 10 minutes. It's clear, it's focused, and it respects

[9:14] your time. No nonsense, no partisanship, just useful, straightforward information

[9:20] connecting residents to their government. You'll find the Burrow in

[9:24] brief on the Burrow channel, the Burrow website, and across social media.

[9:35] See, Kurt, that wasn't 45. Uh, so that's it. That's the little

[9:40] promo we have to roll out to explain to the to the residents what we will be

[9:44] doing. Uh that will loop on the burrow channel for a while so they they get a

[9:50] feel for that. And then um I've already I've already had a session with Brian

[9:55] Johnson on recreation, specifically recreational basketball because it's

[9:59] basketball season. Uh, I also spent we we did one the other day with Jim

[10:04] Pokeriak on u the RFP that the burrows be going to be entertaining for Elman

[10:11] Chestnut which you got a little we got a little bit more in depth with that one

[10:14] because it's a more complicated concept but that's the kind of things we'll be

[10:18] doing uh as you tell me what you want to have covered that's what we'll develop.

[10:23] Uh the uh the tapings are done by uh 1681 digital media and uh that's it. I'd

[10:32] rather answer your questions. Oh, and it'll be shown on on the burrow channel

[10:37] and then they'll be housed or or archived on the burrow website and uh

[10:43] people can then look at past episodes or whatever topic they want.

[10:48] Right. >> So, what I think we spoke about, we're

[10:51] trying to to put out there is there's so many things in town that is being

[10:57] accomplished and like Brian runs a basketball program. It's outstanding

[11:02] program, 160 kids involved and by him just saying coming here talking about it

[11:09] once in a you don't get the impact on what's really what he's doing. I mean,

[11:14] how hard he's working for this program and how much time he's putting into this

[11:18] program. And it's like that with everybody when I'm trying to push things

[11:24] into like Greg Lorraine, you know, Louis, everybody's got a job up here to

[11:28] do and I think they're doing and when I approached Bill, he said, I don't even

[11:34] want anything. I mean, it's we I really appreciate you doing this for nothing

[11:38] because I know how much time it's going to take. It's not just you see a six or

[11:42] eight minute video. it's setting it up and meeting with the people and

[11:46] interviewing people. So again, you know, thank you very much for putting the time

[11:52] into this and I think it's going to be a great way to, you know, move forward and

[11:57] [clears throat] like you said, people watch this stuff on social media.

[12:01] » Yeah. So, >> and and uh

[12:04] » and I also we talked about I think that this will be shown with no comments

[12:10] because the sad part is as hard as he's working you know somebody's going to

[12:14] have something to say. So, it's better just put your message out there and

[12:19] again if somebody has something to say we're here every month. You don't never

[12:22] see anybody in the audience that come here and say anything. things.

[12:26] » Well, there's plenty of outlets for people to express themselves, but but on

[12:30] this one, we just want it to be standalone. Here's the content

[12:34] » and take from it what you would. >> I think Ralph was alluding to a little

[12:37] bit of what I was going to ask you. Um, what is it not? So, I, you know, I'm

[12:41] sure there's going to be a lot of people that see this and see the traction that

[12:45] it gets and may want to utilize it. So, what who what will it be and what won't

[12:50] it be? What it will be is specific information about specific burrow

[12:55] programs. That's that's for sure. And then there are some that are certainly I

[13:00] think when historic crystal day is coming I can see having u you know the

[13:04] women the people who [clears throat] are running the day on for a short interview

[13:08] to highlight all the things but that's that's what it will be. And uh we can

[13:12] huddle up now and then decide if we want to expand it. Uh but we do one guest at

[13:18] a time. There's reasons for that. The biggest reason is so that we can capture

[13:22] it on the film the way we want to capture it. Maybe once in a while

[13:26] there'll be a situation where we'll have more than one guest and we have to work

[13:29] out the logistics of that >> and we're hoping it can run every two

[13:34] maybe 3 weeks a new a new show.

[13:38] » Yeah. We prefer to say periodic rather than lock ourselves into a particular

[13:44] because might not happen that way. >> Right. I tell you what you see Brian

[13:49] Johnson on camera. It's just, you know, he just he just we discovered what his

[13:53] real talent is, you know, did a good job. It was fun.

[13:58] » Any questions for Bill? >> No, but this sounds wonderful. Thank you

[14:02] for doing >> Who made the logo?

[14:04] » Pardon me. >> Who made the logo? It's nice.

[14:07] » Uh, I do. >> With some help from a guy named Al.

[14:12] [laughter] >> Um,

[14:16] yeah. Uh, so it'll be I think it's going to improve

[14:20] as it goes along. You see the first one and then you get the kinks out, you do

[14:23] the second one, a couple more kinks and each one is going to get better. Um, but

[14:27] again, you give me the topics and I'll do them. Unless I don't want to, then I

[14:32] won't do that. >> Thanks. All right. Thank you very much.

[14:35] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[14:36] » Thank you. So, so with that, and we were we talked

[14:41] a little bit earlier, is that we're very close to unveiling a whole new program

[14:46] throughout town for a lot of different projects. Uh Kurt, maybe a week or two,

[14:52] we should be ready. We've been working on this for almost two years, so I think

[14:56] we're very close. This will give you an overview of different projects, uh

[15:03] things that we talked about we want to accomplish moving forward. So, it's

[15:07] going to be a nice program. We're going to invite the public. Anybody public

[15:11] comment? We'll get a date. Uh trying to think. I don't know if we can

[15:17] get it this month. It's only the 9th.

[15:24] Think we might be able to hit the last week or how about the first week of

[15:28] March? >> Should work.

[15:32] » All right. All right. We'll get the word out

[15:35] someway. we meet March 2nd.

[15:40] So maybe we can meet that, you know, the 5th or something like

[15:45] that. But I think council it's going to be a

[15:50] really nice presentation. Okay. Jeff, you want to talk about

[15:56] executive session? The council met in executive session for approximately 45

[16:00] minutes today uh to discuss primarily the negotiations with the police on a

[16:06] new collective bargaining agreement. We are very very close. So hopefully with

[16:10] some few tweaks we'll be ready in the near future to approve a new police

[16:14] contract for 5 years. Other than that, that was the extent of our conversation.

[16:20] » Okay. Uh Lorraine, you have anything? I just

[16:24] want to thank again the burough crew for their tireless efforts

[16:29] um and going out and continuing to move snow and uh with the help and some help

[16:37] from my brother-in-law as well, Fred Cullen. So, I really appreciate it.

[16:42] That's all I have. >> Great.

[16:43] » I just want to say uh first of all, thank you, Mr. Dylan, for being so

[16:46] responsive. Um, the Scarrow is usually a very good organization and um, for the

[16:51] most part, I think overall we're pretty happy with them. Um, but there are pe a

[16:56] few people around town, particularly this last um, this last trash cycle uh,

[17:00] Monroe Street, uh, who were not picked up and um, unfortunately Lorraine and I

[17:05] were having a tough time communicating with those residents because we weren't

[17:09] getting answers from Mascara. Mr. Dylan was certainly trying his best. Um, and

[17:14] so I just want to say to the people of Monroe Street, we are as uh frustrated

[17:18] and annoyed with that situation as you are. Uh, as it stands right now, the

[17:22] plan is to pick up the trash tomorrow. Uh, if you are on Monroe Street and you

[17:27] notice [cough and laughter] that the trash has not been picked up um by the

[17:30] by, you know, maybe an hour or two after when it usually is, please feel free to

[17:35] reach out to us or Mr. Dylan to let us know so we can figure out why that route

[17:40] was getting missed and why we weren't getting answers as to why it wasn't

[17:42] picked up. That's all. >> I mean, if your trash hasn't been picked

[17:47] up on any street, you should notify the bur as soon as possible. Don't wait

[17:52] until after we're out of here and then we can't do anything. If you can call us

[17:57] early enough, we they Mascara has a supervisor

[18:02] in town all day long while they're picking up trash to respond to any kind

[18:06] of complaints. Something had to happen unfortunate today

[18:11] » because they emergency. >> Am I right, Jim?

[18:15] » No matter when you call this guy, we all have his cell phone. He answers. So, who

[18:20] knows what could >> could have happened. So, let's give him

[18:24] the benefit of the doubt. But like Greg said, if it's not picked up tomorrow, we

[18:30] really need to know as soon as possible. >> Brian, you have anything?

[18:34] » Uh, I just want to say for like the residents in like the North or around

[18:38] town, just be patient with Pico. Like they were out like I think it was Friday

[18:42] night and they worked all night and I heard them. They were right behind my

[18:46] house. But with the events that happen like at Silver Lake, just be patient

[18:51] with them.

[18:55] Um, actually I just want to um thank the burrow guys for all their uh

[19:04] hard work in removing the snow. Um, >> and that's it.

[19:11] » Louie, I just want to make mention of this. I kind of almost hate to do it,

[19:16] but I want to People are putting their chairs and their lawn furniture and

[19:21] whatever else out on the streets. It's not allowable. And it's at one point at

[19:28] some point we're going to have to either go around and pick them up and dispose

[19:32] of them or throw them in somebody's yard. But it's not it's not a good

[19:37] thing. It's not fair to anybody else on the block. I know when you dig yourself

[19:41] out, you feel that that's your space, but

[19:46] for that space to have to sit empty all day long while you're at work. That's

[19:50] not fair to the rest of the rest of people [clears throat] on that block.

[19:53] And actually, I saw one of them get hit by a a snow plow. It was a projectile

[19:58] gone down Rackless Street. Luckily, it didn't hit anybody's car. Um, so please

[20:04] have a little, you know, little courtesy and I I know it's a tough situation.

[20:09] It's the only time I've ever argued with a neighbor is over parking in the snow

[20:16] and and I regret it, [clears throat] you know, cuz it didn't do anybody any good.

[20:21] So, please, let's let's take this stuff off the street. Plus, the burough guys

[20:25] can actually start to move some of these bigger chunks that are along the side if

[20:31] if the cars aren't there. So everybody be patient because it doesn't

[20:37] look like it's going to warm up for another week yet. So but that's all I

[20:42] have. Thank you. >> Um same thing. Um just uh to the

[20:48] residents of of of the town. Um, I know we all appreciate the patience with snow

[20:55] removal and parking and pico and all that and and and it takes it takes

[21:01] community to come together to to just get through this and just in in mind thy

[21:06] neighbor um in terms of the plowing and the the the shoveling out of spots and

[21:12] things of that nature. just just be mindful of each other and just just

[21:16] remember who we are and and um exercise patience and that's all I had.

[21:23] » Right. >> Uh just a question for Mr. Garton if you

[21:28] could check. Is [clears throat] there any provision in the code for the

[21:32] burough manager to take administrative action against a member of the police

[21:36] department without first consulting with the mayor?

[21:39] Um, I don't know. I'd be happy to discuss it in private since it's a

[21:43] personal issue. >> Okay. I will inquire, but Mr. Mayor,

[21:48] what's your phone number? And I'll be happy to call you.

[21:51] » Okay, I'll give it to you. >> Okay, that works.

[21:54] » Well, is there any I'd rather answer that.

[21:57] » I mean, I don't know. I want to get a little more detail first. know

[22:01] administrative action would not be something within the perview of the

[22:05] manager because obviously if it's disciplinarian uh it would come through

[22:10] the burrow eventually but it would not be unowed by the man I know what we're

[22:14] talking about so I don't want to be presump

[22:16] » so once we find out we could publicly address that

[22:20] » yeah we'll find out >> okay

[22:22] » I don't think I know what we're talking about either

[22:25] » what's that Jim >> I don't think I know what we're talking

[22:28] about either to any action against the police officers. Is that what I heard?

[22:34] » Yeah, I'd be happy to discuss with you in private since it's personnel issue.

[22:39] » Well, do you want to call recess? >> We finish the meeting and we'll talk

[22:44] after the meeting after this meeting. >> You sure?

[22:47] » Yeah. >> All right, Chief.

[22:51] » I don't have the motion.

[22:54] » Hey, Jay. [clears throat and cough]

[22:57] » Yeah, I have a couple things. Um, I spoke last week about fire hydrants

[23:00] being shoveled out. Fire department's still actively working on it. Uh, if you

[23:06] have a hydrant on your block and it is buried, please help us help you by

[23:10] digging it out. The other night we had a call and our firefighters need to hook

[23:14] up to a hydrant and they were hitting the ice and snow with shovels and

[23:18] sledgehammers trying to dig the hydrant out. If that would have been a structure

[23:22] fire, we would have had at least a 10-minute delay in getting uh hooked up

[23:28] to the hirement. So, if you could help us out, it would be much appreciated.

[23:32] Our guys have been out six, seven times. They're trying to get as many as

[23:36] possible, but uh if you can help us, uh please help us. Uh the fire department

[23:42] responded to a gas leak incident today on Swain Street. Um we worked together

[23:48] with the police department was there. We ended up evacuating nine houses. Um,

[23:54] they were sheltered in Google Hos's uh, Regency room while we could mitigate the

[23:59] issue. Um, no injuries or any of that, but we were

[24:03] there for about 3 hours this afternoon. Uh, and I'm working with Ray from L and

[24:09] I uh, on a couple of things behind the scenes. That's all I have.

[24:14] » Thank you. I know my street had a gas leak. They

[24:20] dug it up, finally fixed it, repaved the street. Then Aqua come in. They had a

[24:26] water problem. So they dug up the whole street. They just [snorts] repaved it.

[24:31] And now two days ago, Pico's out there with the gas coming. They're digging it

[24:35] up again. So the street's going to be paved three times. And it's it's

[24:39] ridiculous. But what do you want to do? >> Uh Jim, you have anything?

[24:44] » No. >> Jeff, anything else?

[24:46] » I've already discussed it. >> All right. so we can get into our

[24:51] regular meetings. So, number two on the agenda. [clears throat]

[24:55] » President, I'd like to make a motion to accept the council meeting minutes for

[24:57] December 15th, 2025, January 5th, 2026, and January 12th, 2026. Uh to accept the

[25:04] treasures report for December of 2025, to accept the police chief report for

[25:08] January of 2026. to accept the fire chief report for January of 2026. To

[25:13] accept the inspection report for January of 2026. To accept the public works

[25:17] report for January of 2026. To accept the hard report for January of 2026. To

[25:22] accept Gilmore report dated February 2026 for January 2026 work. And to

[25:28] accept 1927 Ahern's Fox Restoration Committee annual report to Bristol

[25:33] Barrel Council ending in 2025. >> Second by Miss Colin. Questions or

[25:39] comments? All those in favor? >> I oppose. Number three.

[25:43] » Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to approve granting an honorable

[25:46] disability discharge to Dean Johnson pursuant to section 21 of the police

[25:51] tenure act 3PS section 8121 in the burough's uniform pension plan.

[25:58] » Second by Mr. Contro. Any questions or comments? All right,

[26:03] Joe. I just want to take a second to thank

[26:06] Officer Johnson for his 19 years of service here in Bristol Burrow and wish

[26:10] him and his family well moving forward. Um,

[26:16] that's all. >> Thank you.

[26:18] » Anybody else? >> Mr. President, can I comment on that?

[26:20] » Sure. >> I'm just with with the the unfortunate

[26:25] uh loss of uh Officer Johnson, that's going to put us below below

[26:31] [clears throat] the 10 uh man power minimum of the contract. Is there any

[26:35] consideration to bringing back uh our furled officer, Officer Depalo, who was

[26:42] uh one of the most active officers at the time when he was furo

[26:50] was not furled. He was laid off. There's a distinction.

[26:53] » Okay. Now, so we're involved now in the midst of a new collective bargain

[26:57] agreement. So the 108 the 10 man minimum may not be applicable going forward.

[27:03] Okay. Thank you.

[27:07] » Excuse me as Cole keeps coming back. Any other questions or comments? All those

[27:13] in favor

[27:17] number four. >> Number five. I'm sorry.

[27:26] » Mr. Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to terminate the heart and lung

[27:28] benefit payment to Dean Johnson for the reasons noted in the prior motion.

[27:33] » Second by Miss Colum. Questions or comments?

[27:36] » All those in favor? I >> number five.

[27:40] » Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion in the hiring of Brian Mars as Burough's

[27:44] part-time recreation director at $30 per hour.

[27:48] » Second by Mr. Secretroy. Questions or comments? Uh, I would just like to um

[27:52] say that uh Brian's excited to get to work. Um, and he will be starting on

[27:56] Friday. Um, >> he'll be starting on Friday. And um, you

[28:02] know, what we're talking about generally is going to be about $240 a week for

[28:07] someone that's very qualified to do the job. So, I think we're we're lucky to

[28:10] have him and excited to get get to work. >> Any other questions or comments?

[28:17] » All those in favor? >> Oppos? to make a motion to second my

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