Nov. 4, 2026 Meeting Minutes
MONTELLO BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MEETING MINUTES FOR Nov. 4 2026
IN ATTENDANCE: Scott Dwyer President, Greg Belcher Treasurer, Lisa Waitt Belcher Secretary, Ed Awon, Win Farwell, Matt Stanton, Peter Reardon, Rich Gowell, Lori Sergi Gowell, David Lynch, George DePina,
Al Davis, Bill Forte, Sam Audi Bassam, Vinny Colarusso, Derek Salamone BPD, Jay McLaughlin, Jeff Charnel, Dan Trout, Pires Brothers, Amanda Gomez, Jim Stapleton, guest speakers from Left Field and Suffolk Construction regarding Brockton High School project.
Scott opened. Greg announced Treasurer report.
Derek Salamone on Police: car meets over weekend…over 300 cars over 2 nights, 3 arrests, 2 guns confiscated, hopefully last of the year. 9 Plymouth Academy graduates coming up. Goal to reach $10K Shop With A Cop…100 students each get $100 gift card for Walmart. Greg said send request to MBA. NO regulation for parking on dirt on private property. Winter parking ban brought up: Dec. 1 to Apr. 1.
Win Farwell: interim CFO Jay Condon. Pension reserve being used to supplement deficit. Needs to happen to mail out tax bills. Advocating for Kevin Sullivan of Left Field. Win expressed: Not satisfied with level of services given to residents of this city. Must raise level of performance…i.e. traffic enforcement. Accountability. Run the city like a business. Ordinances should be enforced. Zoning decisions should be enforced. Not respected; not acceptable. Need to crack down on illegal apartments; very dangerous with regards to fire safety. Regarding BHS project, defers to Left Field presentation.
Peter Reardon on Fire Protection Bureau: new station on Warren Ave. 2-way traffic is working great. Youth academy active for students; going very well. Youth firesetting program reinstated. FLAME educates children to not pull fire stations. Disappointed with the state to send the SAFE money; fund approval yesterday and cut $4000.00. New shelter on Manley St. called in 700-900 times to 911 so far this year.
Jeff Charnel Councilor at Large on BHS project: trust the process and watch the MSBA, booming business project for the city.
Kevin Sullivan of Left Field and Pat Brophy of Suffolk Construction guests with their contingency.
MSBA state agency; 1 cent of 6.25% sales tax goes to this. 2-year so far in this rigorous project to get Brockton involved to get some funds. January, February, March of 2027 keep eye on city council and Prop 2 ½ overrides. MSBA figures running about $440 million contribution to the $800 million total.
Repairs at BHS will trigger new requirements in building code. Extra VO-TECH space would be incorporated, four building complex, update Fine Arts building and Gymnasium/pool building. Debt exclusion: Residential average home $480,000 will cost $188 per year for 10 years. Also: Trying to keep Brockton residents in Brockton schools rather than using school choice to leave; keep the student funding in the city. VOTECH very important factor.
David Lynch brought up surrounding properties i.e. Bertarelli and Mihos families to be approached for building space; pointed out weak points about BHS including safety issues and closure of VOTECH programs.
Left Field: Geographical borings in the soil-about 40-engineered that the land would be suitable. Corrected misstatements recently in Enterprise News.
Suffolk Construction: Greg Belcher asked about bid bond to cover unexpected costs “construction manager at risk” Answer was “not to exceed” contract will be done. “Guaranteed Maximum Price” term brought up. Project labor agreement to hire Brockton residents.
Substantial waiting lists on vocational high schools.
Jay McLaughlin advocated for the project to improve Brockton; best thing for us. State paying more than half. Jim Stapleton toured Durfee High School in Fall River and advocates this project to bring students back, saving money to our own treasury to keep middle schools maintained. Our city should take advantage of this financial opportunity because most other cities have improved their situations by doing so. Boston, Worcester, etc.
Greg brought up the bus storage and maintenance/repair. No input on that from anyone.
Meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m.









