Special Board of Aldermen 09-16-2021 Page 13
Laurie Ortolano
Good evening. Laurie Ortolano, 41 Berkeley Street. A couple of things. The Police Commission size as a
group of three | don’t think should be changed. It’s efficient. This Board heard the Board of Health talk
about how important it was for them to stay as a unit of three because they were nimble, they worked well
together, and they were efficient. A board of three as Police Commissioners is just fine and there is room
on that board if there are other people who want to get involved. Diversity you want to include it, that’s fine.
It happens when it happens. You don’t roll these seats over frequently. That’s a given fact and three
members on that commission | think the Police Commissioners should hold firm and the board members
too to say that is a board that is sized appropriately to do the business for the city.
Also, vetting this required so much more care. It wasn’t an open process. It happened very quickly. It was
one sided. There wasn’t the debate that needed to be had. There were questions asked. The petitioners
who wrote this said hey we’re going to run around, gather all those signatures, and then we’re going to
allow the public to ask questions after. The debate starts after it gets on the ballot. | asked questions to
Trish Klee and others why was it not considered to allow citizens to vote on this rather than having the
Mayor appoint. | never received an answer. It just seems to be that well that’s the only option that’s exists.
That’s the one we brought forth and that’s what you get to vote on. That’s not open discussion and | don’t
think it needs to change at all. | think it’s just fine the way it is. | think you’re Charter change that needs to
be look at is whether you need a city manager. Start looking there at a bigger picture on how you manage
your money not how your Police Commission is set up.
As far as putting women on a board because you need diversity, the kind of diversity you need in the city
right now is the diversity of our minds. This is a very closed minded chamber typically and this Mayor is
very narrow minded. He does not respect the broad opinions of other people and in many instance some
of them are women.
Alderman O’Brien
Thirty seconds.
Laurie Ortolano
Now as far as open seats, | applied for a seat on the Board of Assessors. | was never considered. Not
only was | not considered, | never even received a letter to let me know that | wasn’t qualified. Is this how
our Mayor is going to treat candidates who apply? Unacceptable to me. This needed to be vetted.
Everyone should vote no and let this be worked out the way it should be through open communication and
dialog. Thank you.
President Wilshire
I’m going to take one more person in opposition and then I’m going to switch back.
Alderman O’Brien
Thank you Madam President. As a point of order, | would like to update the agenda. We have been joined
by Alderman Lopez who joined the meeting at 8:07 p.m. which brings 10 members in the chamber and 2 on
Zoom. Thank you Madam President.
President Wilshire
Thank you.
