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04-07-2014 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGREGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL Minutes dated April 7, 2014 Meeting was called to order By President Johnson at 7:00pm at the Auditorium at the Roberta G. Doering School, 68 Main Street, Agawam. Item 1. Roll Call Roll Call was taken with the following councilors present: George Bitzas, Cecilia Calabrese, Paul Cavallo, Council President Christopher Johnson, James Cichetti, Gina Letellier, Joseph Mineo, Vice President Dennis Perry, Robert Rossi and Anthony Suffriti. Councilor Donald Rheault was not in attendance. With ten councilors present, there was a quorum. Item 2. Moment of Silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. President Johnson asked for a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. Item 3. Citizen’s Speak Time There were three citizens signed up to speak. The first was Superintendent William Sapelli who spoke in favor of TR-2014-11 (a Resolution authorizing the preparation of a Statement of Interest (SOI) for Renovations to the Agawam High School). Henry Kozloski and Aldo Mancino spoke in favor of TR-2014-13 (a Resolution appropriating $35,979.60 from the CPA fund for benches at the Veterans Green and Feeding Hills Center). Item 4. Minutes There was a Motion to approve the March 17th Regular City Council meeting minutes made by Councilor Cichetti and seconded by Councilor Cavallo. The minutes were approved by a vote of: 10 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (Councilor Rheault). Item 5. Declaration from Council President None. Item 6. Presentation of Petitions, Memorials & Remonstrances Item 1. TR-2014-11 - A Resolution accepting a grant from the Massachusetts Gaming commission pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws ($70,000.00) The Motion was made to take this item off the table by Councilors Rossi and Bitzas, seconded by Councilor Cavallo. The vote to remove the item from the table was 10Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (Councilor Rheault). Discussion was held with Councilor Letellier noting that there were two different hourly rates for the lead attorney on the detailed legal bill. She stated that in the future she would like to see the fee contracts for these types of bills. Councilors Cavallo and Bitzas spoke in favor of passing this resolution with both stating that the town would be responsible to pay the legal bills anyway. The Resolution was approved with a vote of 10 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (Councilor Rheault). Item 2. TR-2014-13 - A Resolution appropriating $35,979.60 from the Community Preservation fund and authorizing the expenditure of Community Preservation Funds for the replacement of benches at Veterans Green and Feeding Hills Center The Motion was made by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Letellier. Councilor Mineo as Chair of the Finance Committee gave a report on this item stating the committee gave a positive recommendation with a vote of 4-0. The Resolution was approved with a vote of 10 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (Councilor Rheault). Item 3. TR-2014-14 - A Resolution authorizing the preparation of a Statement of Interest for Renovations to the Agawam High School located at 760 Cooper Street, Agawam, Massachusetts. The Motion was made by Councilors Cavallo and Letellier, seconded by Councilor Mineo. There was general discussion regarding this item with Councilor Cavallo stating how much this is needed especially with the heating system and wi-fi reception issues already in the High School. Councilor Rossi stated that these renovations are a long time coming and is hoping for a good response from the MSBA. Councilor Calabrese mentioned that as a long time Rosie Robotics mom that the STEM deficiencies still put out students that attend top tier colleges after graduation and we need to improve these areas to stay competitive. The Resolution was passed by a vote of 10 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (Councilor Rheault). Item 7. Report of Council Committees Reports were provided by the Auditor and the Chairs of the four sub-committees. Item 8. Elections None. Item 9. Public Hearings Item 1. PH-2014-1 (TOR-2014-1) An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Agawam to allow Registered Medical Marijuana Facilities (Public Hearing date set for April 22, 2014) Motion was made to table this item until the Public Hearing on April 22nd by Councilor Calabrese, seconded by Councilor Rossi. The item was tabled by a vote of 10 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (Councilor Rheault). Item 10. Old Business None. Item 11. New Business 1. TO-2014-6 - Voucher List ($2,187.50) Next Agenda 2. TO-2014-7 - An Order granting or renewing a Junk Dealer’s PERMIT for T’s Jewelers, 559 Springfield Street, Feeding Hills, MA. (Clerk) Next Agenda and referred to the Administrative Committee. 3. TO-2014-8 - An Order granting or renewing an Automatic Amusement PERMIT for Headquarter’s Bar & Grille, 485B Springfield Street, Agawam, MA (Clerk) Next Agenda and referred to the Administrative Committee. 4. TR-2014-15 - A Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Robert Rivkin, 34 Sherwood Drive, Agawam, MA 01001 to the Agawam Municipal Golf Commission for a term expiring on December 31, 2016 (Mayor) Next Agenda. 5. TR-2014-16 - A Resolution to Amend the Rules and Regulations of the Agawam City Council (Councilor Johnson) Next Agenda and referred to the Legislative Committee. 6. TOR-2014-2 - An Ordinance to Amend the Code of the Town of Agawam to Establish the Agawam Housing Committee (Councilor Johnson) (Two Readings Required Next Agenda and referred to the Legislative Committee. 7. TOR-2014-3 - An Ordinance to Amend the Chapter 114 of the Agawam Town Code entitled “Junk and Secondhand Dealers”(Mayor) (Two Readings Required) Next Agenda and referred to the Legislative Committee. 8. TOR-201 4-4 - An Ordinance amending the Zoning Code of the Town of Agawam creating the Mixed Use Business C District (Planning Board) (Two Readings Required) Next Agenda and referred to the Legislative Committee. 9. TR-2014-17 - A Resolution accepting a grant in the amount of $71,164.00 from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53A to the Town of Agawam (Mayor) Next Agenda and referred to the Finance Committee. 10. TR-2014-18 - A Resolution accepting a grant in the amount of $1,275.00 from FM Global pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44,Section 53A to the Agawam Fire Department (Mayor) Next Agenda and referred to the Finance Committee. 11. TR-2014-19 – A Resolution authorizing the Reservation of funds from the Community Preservation Fund (CPA) Next Agenda. 12. TO-2014-9 - Transfer of $5,830.00 from Council Professional Services (#11112-52190) to Council Equipment, Repair & Maintenance (#11112-52030) (City Council) Next Agenda. 13. TR-2014-20 - A Resolution adopting the Fiscal Year 2015-2019 Capital Improvement Program (Mayor) – Set Public Hearing Date suggesting June 2, 2014 Next Agenda and referred to the Finance Committee. Item 12. Any other matter that may legally come before the City Council. Councilors wished everyone including the public a Happy Easter. Councilor Letellier briefly commended the School Committee’s involvement and investigation into excessive testing for students and their resolution currently on the School Committee’s Agenda. She stated there should be a balance between putting too much pressure on students with testing and fair testing methods. Councilor Cavallo would like an update on the School Street Park project. Councilor Calabrese also mentioned the School Department’s budget this year with an appreciating of the unfunded mandates that are included in that budget. Councilor Rossi questioned a recent Memorandum of Understanding with respect to stipends and how they are paid. Some employees are paid by town ordinance and if there are changes to those salaries, he questioned whether or not it had to come before the Council for a vote. Would like some investigation into this matter or get a ruling from the Law Department. Council President stated that the Auditor should hold off on paying those stipends until we can find out the legalities and get a definitive ruling from DOR. The Motion to adjourn was moved and seconded with all in favor of adjourning. Time of adjournment 7:35pm Adjournment.