Office of Outdoor Advertising
Public Meeting
November 19, 2015
11:00 AM
Ten Park Plaza
Conference Rm 5 & 6
Boston, MA 02116
Present:
John Romano, Executive Director
Eileen Fenton, Esq., Counsel
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Office of Outdoor Advertising November 19, 2015
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P R O C E E D I N G S
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JOHN ROMANO:
Welcome to the November
4
19th hearing of the Office of Outdoor Advertising.
5
Thank you all for coming.
6
found the room.
7
a couple of times.
8
house, so people found their way.
9
I’m glad to see everybody
I’m sorry we had to shuffle it around
It looks like we’ve got a full
In case you haven’t signed in, there is
10
a table outside with sign-in sheets.
11
on your way out if you haven’t signed in on the way
12
in.
13
You can sign in
So, this meeting is accessible to
14
people with disabilities and individuals with limited
15
English proficiency.
16
for assistive technology, sign language, alternative
17
format documents, an interpreter, translated
18
documents, or other such services to be available
19
today, please see Lydia.
If you filed a request with us
20
Lydia, raise your hand.
21
And I don’t think we received any
22
23
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requests ahead of time.
We also have amplification devices from
Lydia for anyone who needs them.
If you need any
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other similar assistance to participate today, please
2
let Lydia know and we will try to help you.
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we do have on our website, if you let us know ahead of
4
time, it will make it easier for us to get whatever
5
you need.
6
hearing.
But, as
But we’ve received none for today’s
7
Outside on the table there was also a
8
copy of the minutes of the October 8th meeting.
9
comments, or questions, or updates on that?
10
(No response.)
11
JOHN ROMANO:
12
Seeing none, we will mark
those approved.
13
The first item, Agenda Item 3A, is
14
Application for New Licenses.
15
is Core Investments, 41 West Street, Suite 800,
16
Boston, MA.
17
The first one up today
Is there anybody here from the company?
18
Could you please identify yourself for the
19
stenographer?
20
21
Any
BRETT LAZAR:
Yes, I’m Brett Lazar, B-
r-e-t-t, L-a-z-a-r.
22
JOHN ROMANO:
23
today.
24
here.
Brett, thanks for coming
It seems that all the paperwork is in order
We have your W-9 form, we have your Certificate
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of Good Standing and Tax Compliance from the
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Department of Revenue, and we also have your
3
Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of
4
State’s Office.
5
6
Do you have anything you’d like to add
at this time?
7
BRETT LAZAR:
No, I don’t think so.
8
JOHN ROMANO:
Great.
9
coming.
Thank you for
We will take this under advisement and we
10
will get back to you in short order to let you know,
11
probably a week to two.
12
BRETT LAZAR:
Great.
Thank you.
13
JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you.
14
Next, we have WLC Commercial Property
15
Services, Inc., 27 Farm Avenue, Peabody.
16
an application for a new license.
17
18
Is there anybody here from the
proponent?
19
20
This is also
MICHAEL WEISS:
Michael Weiss, W-e-i-s-
s.
21
JOHN ROMANO:
Michael, thank you for
22
coming today.
We have your application, your check.
23
We have your W-9 form.
24
Certificate of Good Standing and Tax Compliance.
And we also have your
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seems we have everything that we need here.
2
have anything that you’d like to add here?
3
MICHAEL WEISS:
4
JOHN ROMANO:
Do you
No, sir.
Okay.
Thank you very
5
much for attending.
Again, just as the other, we’ll
6
take that under advisement and we’ll get back to you
7
in a short time to let you know how you make out.
8
MICHAEL WEISS:
9
JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you.
The next item on the
10
agenda, we have Skyworld Media, LLC, 72 Kneeland
11
Street.
12
Notification was provided to the -- originally to the
13
Mayor’s Office and the City Clerk’s Office on 9/4.
14
This item was pulled off of the October agenda and
15
then added to the November agenda.
16
was sent to the City to note the meeting date change
17
to inform them that this would be heard today.
18
19
20
This is Application Number 2015379.
So, let’s see.
Email notification
Is the applicant
present?
JOHN PULGINI:
21
morning, Mr. Director.
22
behalf of Skyworld Media.
Excuse me.
Good
Attorney John Pulgini on
23
JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you, Mr. Pulgini.
24
Is there anybody here from the City of
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Boston?
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(No response.)
3
JOHN ROMANO:
4
Are there any abutters here today on
5
Seeing none.
Okay.
this?
6
(No response.)
7
JOHN ROMANO:
8
Is there anybody here from the MassDOT
9
None.
Thank you.
District Office?
10
(No response.)
11
JOHN ROMANO:
And our Traffic
12
Operations people wouldn’t be here for this because
13
this is -- they only comment on digital signs.
14
JOHN PULGINI:
15
JOHN ROMANO:
16
Sure.
They’re not here for
this.
17
Okay, Mr. Pulgini, was certified mail
18
notice sent to abutters by the applicant at least 30
19
days prior to your submitting your application to my
20
office?
21
JOHN PULGINI:
22
JOHN ROMANO:
Yes, it was.
And, we have a copy of
23
the letter you sent, is that correct?
24
have that in my file.
I believe I
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JOHN PULGINI:
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JOHN ROMANO:
That is correct.
Along with all of the
3
postal receipts of the abutters within -- excuse me --
4
property owners within 500 feet.
So, thank you for
5
submitting those ahead of time.
We appreciate that.
6
Has the applicant received any written
7
comments in support or in opposition to this
8
application?
9
JOHN PULGINI:
10
11
JOHN ROMANO:
We have not.
Okay.
We have not
either.
12
Next, special permit or variance.
You
13
have provided a copy of the variance that you received
14
from the City of Boston.
15
Anything you want to add in that regard?
I have that in my files.
16
JOHN PULGINI:
17
JOHN ROMANO:
No.
So, thank you.
I’m going
18
to have my inspector who does the field report of
19
this, Chris Chaves, will give his report on this item.
20
CHRIS CHAVES:
21
JOHN ROMANO:
22
CHRIS CHAVES:
Thank you, sir.
Thanks, Chris.
This is a proposed
23
wallscape attached to the building at 72 Kneeland
24
Street.
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At the time of inspection, there was a
2
spacing issue with a Clear Channel Trivision
3
approximately 231 feet from the site.
4
understanding as of November 16th there is a waiver
5
given by the Secretary to waive the state spacing
6
requirement of 500 feet.
7
adhere to the federal spacing of 100 feet.
8
that, this would conform with the state and federal
9
agreement.
10
11
It’s my
They will still have to
JOHN ROMANO:
So, with
Just a correction:
It’s
an exemption, not an agreement.
12
CHRIS CHAVES:
13
JOHN ROMANO:
Oh, I’m sorry.
And, yes, we do have that
14
letter from Secretary Pollack.
15
other day in our office.
It was received the
16
CHRIS CHAVES:
17
JOHN ROMANO:
18
So, based on -- based on that, you
19
Thank you, Chris.
don’t have -- there are no other --
20
21
Thank you.
CHRIS CHAVES:
There are no other
issues, right.
22
JOHN ROMANO:
23
CHRIS CHAVES:
24
JOHN ROMANO:
-- issues with the CMR?
No, sir.
Thank you very much.
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Okay.
All right.
Thank you, Chris.
2
CHRIS CHAVES:
3
JOHN ROMANO:
4
I think we have
everything that we need.
5
Are there any public comments that
6
would be like to be made?
7
and identify yourself.
8
9
Thank you.
Yes, ma’am, please stand up
RACHEL THURLOW:
Hi.
Rachel Thurlow,
Beacon Hill.
10
Is that a residential building?
11
JOHN ROMANO:
12
RACHEL THURLOW:
13
JOHN ROMANO:
I can’t answer that for
RACHEL THURLOW:
Okay.
Well, I’m sure
the neighborhood --
18
19
And why is the
the Secretary.
16
17
Okay.
Secretary granting exemptions from the billboard laws?
14
15
No.
JOHN ROMANO:
I don’t issue -- I don’t
issue exemptions, the Secretary does.
20
Any other public comment or questions?
21
Mr. Pulgini, anything you would like to
22
23
24
add?
JOHN PULGINI:
No, Mr. Director.
That’s everything.
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JOHN ROMANO:
Okay.
Thank you very
much.
3
JOHN PULGINI:
4
JOHN ROMANO:
5
advisement.
6
know how it comes up.
Thank you.
We will take this under
And in a couple of weeks we’ll let you
7
JOHN PULGINI:
8
JOHN ROMANO:
9
Okay.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
We will be moving on to Item
10
B.2., Intersection Media, LLC.
11
of street furniture by the MBTA to be put on MBTA
12
structures.
13
This is for a series
I just want to inform everybody that
14
just prior to the hearing, the start of the hearing, I
15
was informed by the MBTA that Items 2b, 2c, and 2f
16
have been requested to be withdrawn from the agenda
17
today and will not be requested at this time.
18
call the applicant, if they want to explain a little
19
further they can.
20
2g, 2h, and 2i.
21
together.
So, we will be hearing 2a, 2d, 2e,
I will do them all as one item
22
So, do you have a question?
23
JIM WHITTERS:
24
When I
Yes, sir.
Jim Whitters
from Beacon Hill.
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2
What locations have been withdrawn?
Can you state it?
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4
JOHN ROMANO:
those.
Yes, I’ll go through
Sure.
5
JIM WHITTERS:
6
JOHN ROMANO:
7
three locations -- and thank you for that.
8
have identified that.
9
Okay.
Thank you.
No problem.
So, the
I should
So, Item b is Tremont and Winter
10
Streets, which is (Park Street Station southwest).
11
That’s Application Number 2015383.
12
The second one, Item 2c, Tremont and
13
Winter Streets, (Park Street Station southeast),
14
Application 2015384.
15
And then the other one is Item f, which
16
is Summer and Winter Streets, (Downtown Crossing
17
Station), Application 2015387.
18
Those three have been withdrawn at this
19
time, or removed from the -- requested to be removed
20
from the agenda.
21
So, we are going to take the first one.
22
I will read each of the locations for each
23
application.
24
going to go through this one-to-one and take them all
So, I will go through them.
But we’re
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as a bundle.
2
So, the applications are for 144
3
Dartmouth Street (Back Bay Station), Application
4
2015382.
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
We also have Beacon and Raleigh Streets
at Comm.
Ave. (Kenmore Station), Application 2015385.
The next is 120 Huntington Ave.
(Prudential Station), Application 205386.
Next is 11 Broadway (Broadway Station),
Application 2015388.
Haymarket Square and Cross Street,
which is Haymarket Station, Application 2015389.
And then 132 Causeway Street, which is
North Station, Application 2015390.
So, one, two, three, four, five, six --
16
let me just make sure -- six locations will go
17
forward; three locations will not at this time.
18
19
So, notice was sent on 10/19 to the
Mayor and to the Clerk’s Office of the City of Boston.
20
Is the applicant present?
21
ROSE YATES:
22
JOHN ROMANO:
23
24
Yes, I am.
Would you please state
your name for the record, please?
ROSE YATES:
Yes, I’m Rose Yates,
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Assistant General Manager for Customer Communications
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and Marketing for the T.
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JOHN ROMANO:
4
Rose, do you want to give a couple of
5
ROSE YATES:
7
JOHN ROMANO:
9
Thank you.
minute --
6
8
Okay.
Sure.
-- as to why those three
are coming out?
ROSE YATES:
Absolutely.
So, we had
10
originally proposed nine permits for nine different
11
locations generally in the core of the Boston area.
12
And after discussions with the City of Boston, we have
13
decided to table the three locations that are closest
14
to the Boston Common to allow for a public process.
15
And so we’ve agreed to do that.
16
move forward with the six permits still on the table.
And we would like to
17
JOHN ROMANO:
18
Are there any abutters present today?
19
(No response.)
20
JOHN ROMANO:
21
Okay.
Is there anyone here from
the MassDOT District Office?
22
(No response.)
23
JOHN ROMANO:
24
Thank you, Rose.
Is there anybody here
from Traffic Operations?
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(No response.)
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JOHN ROMANO:
I just want to read into
3
the record that we do have a memo from the State
4
Traffic Engineer and that he did review these urban
5
panels and that he has no objection from a traffic
6
perspective.
7
output and not obstructing the sidewalks and also
8
being sure that they are -- depending on where they
9
are mounted that they at least have a seven-foot
He did have some input as to light
10
clearance so that people can walk underneath them.
11
And that has been shared with the proponent previous
12
to this, so they are aware of that and will comply
13
with that.
14
Okay.
So, for street -- these are
15
classified under street furniture.
16
does not require 30 days notice to abutters per our
17
regulations.
18
19
20
Street furniture
Rose, have you received any written
comments in support or in opposition to these?
ROSE YATES:
Yes, there have been
21
several communications that have come in regarding
22
concern over some of the locations.
23
24
JOHN ROMANO:
So, I have three, which I
am going to actually take the time to read into the
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record.
And then we will -- Lydia will scan a copy of
2
these and send them to the stenographer so they will
3
become a part of the official record of the hearing.
4
But, I am going to take the time to read each of these
5
as they were written to us.
6
So, please bear with me.
But I think
7
people took the time to comment, so I think it’s fair
8
to read them.
9
So, the first one I received is from
10
City Councilor Josh Zakim.
11
another one.
12
13
Somebody just handed me
KEETA GILMORE:
Can I submit one as
well?
14
JOHN ROMANO:
15
through them.
16
at the end.
Absolutely.
We’ll go
And there will be time for more comment
Okay?
So, the first one:
17
“Dear Director Romano:
18
I understand that the Massachusetts Bay
19
Transit Authority has applied to place electronic
20
billboards on the streets of Boston at the following
21
locations.”
22
23
24
He lists the locations we went over.
I’m not going to read each one of them.
“I object to these applications and ask
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that they be denied.
2
appropriate to have such electronic advertising on the
3
streets of Boston, particularly in densely populated
4
areas, and am concerned that the widespread use of
5
electronic advertising on MBTA stations will set a
6
negative precedent.
7
the MBTA are minimum and the disruption of the city
8
landscape will be significant.
9
the proposals are in an area of historic landmarks
10
that tourists come from across the country and the
11
world to see.
12
allowing electronic billboards.
13
I do not believe it is
The potential revenue gains for
In addition, some of
We should not diminish these sites by
I also have specific concerns regarding
14
the sites selected, some of which appear to violate
15
MassDOT regulations on outdoor advertising.
16
applications are within 300 feet of parks (two for
17
Park Street Station, one for Kenmore and Back Bay
18
Station).
19
across the street from existing residential buildings
20
(Back Bay Station, Broadway Station, and North
21
Station), across the street from residential buildings
22
currently under construction (Back Bay Station, North
23
Station, and Downtown Crossing), across the street
24
from residential buildings in the approval process now
Three
Moreover, other applications propose signs
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(Haymarket), or in close proximity to a residential
2
building (Prudential Station).
3
Given the stated concerns, I believe
4
the MBTA’s application should be denied.
5
for your time and your consideration, and please do
6
not hesitate to contact me at your convenience if you
7
have any questions regarding my position.
8
Sincerely,
9
Josh Zakim”
10
11
Thank you
Next is the one that was just handed to
me, which is from a host of state representatives.
12
“Dear Director Romano,
13
We understand that the Massachusetts
14
Bay Transit Authority has applied to place electronic
15
billboards on the streets of Boston at the following
16
locations,” again, listing the same locations that we
17
previously mentioned.
18
“We object to these applications at
19
this time and ask that they be deferred.
First, there
20
has not been community engagement at all in the
21
neighborhoods that we represent.
22
recently informed of the applications and our
23
constituents have not received notice.
24
be more robust public discussion before these
We were just
There should
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applications should be considered.
2
Second, we have concerns regarding the
3
appropriateness of such electronic advertising in the
4
streets of Boston, particularly in densely populated
5
areas, and that the widespread use of electronic
6
advertising on MBTA stations will set a negative
7
precedent and encourage more such electronic
8
advertising.
9
are minimal and the disruption of the city landscape
The potential revenue gains for the MBTA
10
will be significant.
In addition, some of the
11
proposals are in an area of historic landmarks that
12
tourists come from across the country and the world to
13
see.
14
electronic billboards.
We should not diminish these sites by allowing
15
Finally, we also have specific concerns
16
regarding the sites selected, some of which appear to
17
violate MassDOT regulations on outdoor advertising,
18
particularly without more public outreach.
19
applications are within 300 feet of parks (two for
20
Park Street Station, one for Kenmore and Back Bay
21
Station).
22
across the street from existing residential buildings
23
(Back Bay Station, Broadway Station, and North
24
Station), across the street from residential buildings
The three
Moreover, other applications propose signs
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currently under consideration -- construction --
2
excuse me (Back Bay Station, North Station, and
3
Downtown Crossing), across the street from residential
4
buildings in the approval process now (Haymarket), or
5
in close proximity to a residential building
6
(Prudential Station).
7
For these reasons, we believe the
8
applications of the MBTA should be deferred.
Thank
9
you very much for your time and your consideration.”
10
This is signed by the following state
11
representatives:
12
Aaron Michlewitz, Dan Hunt, Daniel Ryan, Nick Collins,
13
and Dan Cullinane.
14
15
Jay Livingstone, Byron Rushing,
The next one I have -- and I apologize
if I pronounce the name wrong -- but Rachel Grich.
16
“To whom it may concern:
17
My name is Rachel Grich and I am a
18
concerned citizen in the Boston community.
19
understand that there is a hearing today to review and
20
vote on the approval to place advertising signage on
21
several MBTA stops in Boston, including Park Street,
22
Back Bay Station, and Kenmore Station.
23
24
I
I am not able to attend the hearing
today, so I wanted to send an email to explain that I
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am vehemently opposed to the construction of these
2
signs.
3
beautiful cities in the country, and this beauty
4
should not be tampered with by placing advertising
5
signs on T stations.
The city of Boston is one of the most
6
The MBTA has several other ways to
7
generate revenue and it should explore these avenues
8
instead.
9
10
At the hearing today, I hope that this
signage is not approved.
11
Thank you for your consideration.”
12
Signed, Rachel Grich.
13
She’s from
Northeastern University.
14
The next I have is from Rachel Thurlow.
15
“Hello,
16
I am writing to note my genuine disgust
17
with the MBTA’s newest advertising plan to place
18
information panels outside of MBTA stations around the
19
city.
20
I object on the following grounds:
21
No real information will be transmitted
22
if a pedestrian has to wait 30 seconds to get train
23
information.
24
information time is outrageous and it’s clear that the
That advertising time doubles
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objective here is advertising and not helping out
2
commuters.
3
The revenue numbers are suspect and
4
it’s highly unlikely these signs will truly raise a
5
million dollars over two years.
6
Putting signs opposite the Common (Park
7
Street Station at Tremont and Winter Street) and
8
opposite the Greenway (Haymarket) violate 700 CMR
9
3.07(6)’s prohibition on advertising within 300 feet
10
of a 30,000-square-foot park.
11
ignore municipal regulations, but it can’t ignore and
12
is subject to state regulations.
13
14
The T may be able to
MOOA/MassDOT has a serious conflict of
interest issuing billboard permits to the MBTA.
15
Thank you,
16
Rachel Thurlow,
17
Boston, MA.”
18
And the one that I was just handed is
19
by Keeta Gilmore.
And, for the record, I’ll just
20
spell it, K-e-e-t-a, and it’s S., Gilmore, G-i-l-m-o-
21
r-e.
22
“Dear Director Romano,
23
The Beacon Hill Civic Association has,
24
since 1922, strived to enhance and protect the quality
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of life in our neighborhood.
2
We understand that the Massachusetts
3
Bay Transit Authority has applied to place electronic
4
billboards on the streets of Boston.
5
to these applications and asks that they be denied.
6
We do not believe it is appropriate to have electronic
7
advertising on the streets of Boston, particularly in
8
densely populated areas.
9
an area of historic landmarks that tourists come from
10
across the country and the world to see and we should
11
not diminish these sites by allowing electronic
12
billboards.
13
advertising on MBTA stations will set a negative
14
precedent and encourage more such electronic
15
advertising.
16
are minimal and the disruption of the city landscape
17
will be significant.
18
selected sites appear to violate MassDOT regulations
19
on outdoor advertising, being within 300 feet of major
20
parks.
21
The BHCA objects
Some of the proposals are in
The widespread use of electronic
The potential revenue gains for the MBTA
In addition, some of the
For these reasons, we believe the
22
applications of the MBTA should be denied.
23
very much for your time and consideration.
24
Thank you
Best regards,” and it’s signed Keeta
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Gilmore, and she’s the Board Chair.
2
So, with that, I’m going to ask my
3
field engineer, Jason Bean -- field inspector I should
4
say -- to go over his report.
5
JASON BEAN:
Since we sort of did it in
6
a group, this is an example since these are all placed
7
at the T entrances.
8
way.
9
is north and south facing, 42 inches by 56 inches,
10
steel and masonry anchors as well as -- I’m sorry,
11
galvanized steel as well as masonry anchors.
Basically all are set up this
These are two-facing.
12
This one, in particular,
So, if you can look in the picture,
13
it’s kind of a little blurry, but where it says “Back
14
Bay,” that’s where these will be faced, north and
15
south.
This will be at 144 Dartmouth Street.
16
And, at this time, these street
17
furniture are not subject to spacing, so there are no
18
other compliance issues with this.
19
20
21
22
RACHEL THURLOW:
What about the park
right there?
JOHN ROMANO:
Street furniture is not
subject to parks.
23
RACHEL THURLOW:
Could you read into
24
the record the definition of street furniture?
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last time we read it --
2
EILEEN FENTON:
3
be happy to provide a copy of the regulation.
4
5
JOHN ROMANO:
We can provide -- we’d
We can provide that,
yeah.
6
So, based on the decision that these
7
are street furniture here, they are not subject to the
8
park and our other spacing regulations that have been
9
referred to.
10
11
Rose, do you have any -- excuse me, I’m
sorry --
12
JASON BEAN:
No, that’s --
13
JOHN ROMANO:
-- Jason, any other --
14
JASON BEAN:
No other issues that were
15
found at this point.
And, as I said, these are all
16
similar to the ones that you ran through.
17
all similar to this situation where they’re at the
18
entrance of the station.
19
JOHN ROMANO:
20
JASON BEAN:
21
JOHN ROMANO:
22
These are
Thank you.
Thank you.
Rose, is there anything
that you would like to add at this time?
23
ROSE YATES:
24
JOHN ROMANO:
Not at this time.
Okay.
Great.
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2
Are there any other public comments at
this time?
3
4
Yes?
ELLIOTT LAFFER:
order?
5
JOHN ROMANO:
6
here.
7
stenographer can get you in.
8
9
10
11
Are we going to go in
We’re going to start
Please identify yourself so that the
ELLIOTT LAFFER:
My name is Elliott
Laffer, E-l-l-i-o-t-t, L-a-f-f-e-r, from the
Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay.
I want to support the position taken by
12
the Beacon Hill Civic Association and by Councilor
13
Zakim and the state reps and object to the placement
14
of this advertising.
15
define advertising as street furniture.
16
like you were looking for a loophole for that, which
17
is I think also very unfortunate.
18
It seems rather strange to me to
And it sounds
It’s also really important going
19
forward that if these types of fixtures are approved
20
that they not be approved at any point in a historic
21
or architectural district.
22
JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you very much, sir.
23
Anybody else?
24
WILLIAM CLENDANIEL:
Sir?
My name is William
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Clendaniel, C --
2
3
JOHN ROMANO:
standing.
4
5
WILLIAM CLENDANIEL:
JOHN ROMANO:
He can hear you.
So, go
ahead, sir.
8
9
I don’t need to
stand?
6
7
You don’t need to be
WILLIAM CLENDANIEL:
William
Clendaniel, and I live at 24 Dartmouth Street.
10
I walk by this location at least twice
11
a day.
12
public officials.
13
unlikely that this is going to be helpful to the
14
public.
The MBTA ostensibly is trying to help the
15
public.
It seems to me that most people in our ever-
16
younger citizenry are using electronic media of their
17
own.
18
they would get the information they need without
19
having these signs that disrupt the streetscape for
20
the rest of us.
21
I fully support the arguments made by the
I would only add that it seems
They’re on their cell phones.
I would think
In this particular location -- and
22
you’re not showing us the others -- most people, of
23
course, approach the T station from the other side.
24
So, this information being over here is less useful I
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would think.
2
And, finally, I would just say that if,
3
indeed, the MBTA were to realize an extra million
4
dollars of revenue, that is such a small amount of
5
what they need from everything we’ve been told, and
6
the public detriment is so large, it seems very out of
7
balance.
8
9
JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you.
Anything
else?
10
WILLIAM CLENDANIEL:
Well, I think that
11
the public officials have said it very well for all
12
the other reasons.
13
JOHN ROMANO:
14
Is there anybody else who would like to
15
Thank you very much.
make public comment at this time?
16
VALERIE BURNS:
Hi.
Ma’am?
I’m Valerie Burns.
17
I’m a resident of 249 A Street in South Boston.
18
I’d like to sort of endorse the positions my rep, Nick
19
Collins, took together with the other Boston
20
representatives in encouraging you to decline this
21
application.
22
And
Specifically, I live near West
23
Broadway, which is why I came, because West Broadway
24
is a part of South Boston that is really in an
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enormous period of renewal.
And what used to be
2
largely a commercial and industrial neighborhood is
3
now really a residential neighborhood with many new
4
residential buildings and several more in the
5
permitting process.
6
uses, restaurants, and such on the first floor, the
7
amount of residents that are in West Broadway area is
8
really unprecedented.
9
commercial advertising into this new neighborhood
And although there’s commercial
And to introduce this kind of
10
that’s developing in a very healthy and integrated way
11
I think is really a shame.
12
So, in addition, I am concerned about
13
the amount of sites that are within 300 feet of major
14
parkland in the city.
15
lot of concerns.
16
process.
17
week.
18
this point and it be fully vetted in the public
19
discussion process if it should ever reappear.
So, the combination -- I have a
There’s been very little public
I only heard about this the end of last
And I really encourage that this be denied at
20
Thank you.
21
JOHN ROMANO:
22
Anybody else?
23
KITTY DUKAKIS:
24
husband Michael Dukakis.
Thank you, ma’am.
Yes?
I’m representing my
He could not attend today
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because he had responsibilities at Northeastern.
2
And I took a leadership role in his
3
administration on the Beautification Program in the
4
1980s.
5
property.
6
No ads on exteriors of buses and streetcars.
Dozens of billboards were removed from MDC
No outdoor or advertising on T property.
7
I went with then Representative, now
8
the Mayor, to see the Governor at the time, Deval
9
Patrick, and within a week he had removed all of the
10
alcohol ads from the T.
11
The number of young people who are
12
affected by these ads is enormous.
And many of these
13
are in college areas and they just are going to be a
14
disaster.
15
And you’ve got to be sensitive about this.
And I know this from my own experience.
16
What’s happened since that time has
17
been an absolute disgrace as far as I’m concerned and
18
my husband.
19
stuff.
20
polluter.
21
about this.
22
the exteriors of stations in the heart of this
23
beautiful city.
24
revenue.
A beautiful city is being covered by this
The MBTA has become the state’s biggest visual
And I think I express a lot of feelings
This plan is the worst.
Digital ads on
This area has better ways for
What about a U-Pass program that is making
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$10 million a year for the Chicago transit program?
2
And what about better service?
3
be focusing on, not covering the public transportation
4
system with this junk.
5
That’s what we should
And I’m terribly upset.
This is going
6
to be a very bad measure as far as my husband and I
7
are concerned.
8
JOHN ROMANO:
9
Any other public comment?
10
ROGER BERMAN:
Thank you very much.
Yes, sir?
My name is Roger Berman.
11
And I’m a property owner in the Leather District,
12
which now is a somewhat balanced neighborhood between
13
commercial and residential.
14
Avenue from a large outdoor advertising on the side of
15
the Transportation Center.
16
We sit across on Atlantic
So, my comments, I won’t repeat what
17
others have said, although I do find the definition of
18
street furniture, as has been mentioned before,
19
somewhat disingenuous.
20
focus on process, which has also been mentioned, and
21
the lack of notice for abutters for the large
22
advertising on South Station, which gratefully at this
23
time is not digital and is not LED.
24
pollution that was mentioned in some of the others
My comments, I would like to
But the light
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remains a concern.
2
and the use of definitions such as street furniture is
3
concerning.
4
And the lack of notice and process
So, that’s what I’d like to just add to
5
the record as it relates to the sign issue.
6
JOHN ROMANO:
7
Any other public comment?
8
DAVID BIELE:
9
10
Thank you, sir.
Hi, Director Romano.
David Biele with State Representative Nick Collins’
office.
11
12
Great.
I won’t repeat the testimony in the
letter.
I’ll just focus my comments on South Boston.
13
We’ve heard from residents in the West
14
Broadway Neighborhood Association, which is the
15
residential neighborhood most impacted by the proposal
16
for Broadway Station.
17
for them.
18
residential buildings.
19
residents in opposition.
20
This is a quality of life issue
A lot of these signs will be facing
And we stand with the
Also, I spoke with my colleague, Jake
21
Bombard in Senator Forry’s office who couldn’t be here
22
today.
And he also stands in opposition.
23
JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you, David.
24
Are there any other public comment at
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this time?
2
3
Yes, ma’am?
CAITLIN DUFFY:
Hi.
I’m Caitlin Duffy.
I’m from Rep. Jay Livingstone’s office.
4
And like my colleague said, I won’t
5
reiterate all the entire letter, but I did want to
6
make note of the fact that every state representative
7
on the letter, all of them are accounted for of all
8
the areas that are being covered.
9
JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you very much.
10
Anyone else?
Yes?
11
RACHEL THURLOW:
Rachel Thurlow.
I’d
12
just like to read into the record the definition of
13
street furniture.
14
Okay.
These are signs which include,
15
but aren’t limited to, signs located on bus shelters,
16
phone booths, restrooms, bicycle terminals, newspaper
17
kiosks, trash receptacles, computer stations under a
18
public agency, blah, blah, blah.
19
about affixing signs on top of train stations.
20
There’s nothing
And, also, I note that some of these
21
signs are located at exits and not entrances to
22
stations.
23
value of any of these signs.
24
And I really question the informational
Thank you.
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JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you very much.
2
Anyone else?
Yes, sir?
3
JIM WHITTERS:
4
Jim Whitters.
I live in
Boston on Beacon Hill.
5
I served from 1975 to about mid-1979 as
6
Chairman of the Outdoor Advertising Board under
7
Governor Dukakis.
8
in a significant study of the whole issue of
9
regulation of billboards in the Commonwealth, and
And prior to that time, we engaged
10
impacted Governor Sargent, who made significant
11
reforms at our request in 1971 or 1972.
12
What’s important here I think, and what
13
I’ll try to add and not state once again what’s been
14
objected to here, I think it’s important to look at
15
the history of the regulation of outdoor advertising
16
in the Commonwealth and the spirit that led to that
17
attempt to regulate this industry.
18
way back to the Constitutional Convention in 1918.
19
And I think its worthwhile to read the notes that are
20
related to that convention and what motivated people
21
to step up and actually amend the State Constitution
22
in relation to visual issues, outdoor advertising in
23
particular.
24
It goes all the
And I think what was at the base of
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those people, as well as judges and courts that came
2
through later in the 1930s, 1940s, into the 1970s, was
3
protection of residential areas, protection of
4
historic sites, protection of parks.
5
considerations tilted in the direction of regulation.
6
And there was a sensitivity to what we had here in the
7
Commonwealth that was very special to us.
8
The overall
And I think as I sit here, we had a
9
young state representative from Brookline in the 1960s
10
who worked hard and ultimately we won a lawsuit before
11
the Supreme Judicial Court that allowed the cities and
12
towns to further regulate beyond the then Outdoor
13
Advertising Board, and today the Office of Outdoor
14
Advertising.
15
And I call upon you to really study
16
that history, one; and, two, follow in the great sense
17
of reform and regulation and concern about the impact
18
of visual advertising, and be concerned about visual
19
pollution and the impact of too much in our
20
residential areas, in relation to parks, and in
21
relation to historic areas, whether or not I’d say if
22
street furniture is covered because that’s something I
23
guess some of us in the city are going to have to work
24
on and see if we can bring about reform, if it’s
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necessary.
I’m not sure it is.
2
So, I would call upon you to really
3
follow in the long line of and the long history of
4
reform and concern for our environment, and concern
5
for our history, and concern for what’s special here
6
in this city as well as the entire state.
7
Thank you.
8
JOHN ROMANO:
9
Any other public comment?
10
(No response.)
11
JOHN ROMANO:
Thank you, sir.
Okay.
Seeing none, we
12
will take these applications under advisement.
13
will let you know how we rule on this.
14
Thank you.
15
WILLIAM CLENDANIEL:
And we
Can we put contact
16
information where we get notice of a decision or how
17
do we --
18
JOHN ROMANO:
19
WILLIAM CLENDANIEL:
20
There’s been so
little public information.
21
22
We don’t --
JOHN ROMANO:
We can let you know about
this.
23
WILLIAM CLENDANIEL:
Thank you.
24
JOHN ROMANO:
We will be moving
Okay.
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1
on to C and D on the agenda.
2
renewals of license and permits.
3
renewal process for existing licenses and renewals.
4
We have a bunch of
This is the annual
As you can see, we have under Item C,
5
five items for both license and permit renewals.
6
These have been processed and the renewals will be
7
sent out shortly.
8
9
Item D is for what’s called unlicensed
outdoor permits.
As you can see, there are five
10
items.
The same with those; these have been signed
11
off on November 17th and will be processed soon.
12
For those of you who have been
13
submitting your renewals, we have a stack about this
14
high.
15
We did have a little database glitch for a couple of
16
weeks.
17
eight-ball.
18
working diligently and we will, as fast as she can get
19
me to sign my name, providing you don’t have any
20
issues, we’ll get those out to you.
We’re working on them.
We’ll get through them.
21
So, it did put us a little bit behind the
But, my trusty assistant Lydia has been
The next item on the agenda is “For the
22
Record,” actions that were taken since the last
23
hearing.
24
various permits, etc.
You can see there’s a handful here, down to
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2
Does anybody have any comments or
questions on the For the Record items?
3
(No response)
4
JOHN ROMANO:
5
Are there any further public comment on
6
Seeing none.
anything on the agenda?
7
(No response.)
8
JOHN ROMANO:
9
Great.
Seeing none, with
that, I will adjourn the hearing.
10
month if not before.
Thank you all
11
very much for coming, and Happy Thanksgiving to
12
everybody.
13
Whereupon, the proceedings were concluded on
14
November 19, 2015 at 11:43 a.m.)
15
//
16
//
17
//
18
//
19
//
20
//
21
//
22
//
23
//
24
//
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C E R T I F I C A T E
I, Judith Luciano, do hereby certify that the
foregoing record is a true and accurate transcription of
the proceedings in the above-captioned matter to the best
of my skill and ability.
_________________________________________
Judith Luciano
**All names not provided were spelled phonetically to
the best of my ability.
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